Just Open Your Bible

‘Just open your bible.’ This has become a daily mantra I say to myself. I often force myself to finally open my bible and quickly find some truth to benefit me in some way. Don’t get me wrong, I love spending time with the Lord. I love reading His word, meditating on scriptures, singing along to hymns. BUT… I often find it hard to sit down and just open my bible. Can I get an ‘Amen’?! We know how it benefits us to find instruction, hope, direction, peace and even discipline from our heavenly Father, so why is it so difficult to commit spending time with him? This has been a journey for me that has had highs and lows. I have been through seasons of reading the word passionately every day, and also times when I simply have not open my bible. The scriptures are actually bursting with inspiration to read the bible! I encourage you to meditate on the words on Psalm 119. Here are just a few gems: How can a young person stay on the path of purity?

By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

Praise be to you, LORD; teach me your decrees.

With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth.

I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches.

I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways.

I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word. vv9-16 Verse 15 and 16 remind us to meditate and delight in the Word. And this has been my focus in spending time with God so far this year. This year I want to grow spiritually and not remain the same. I am choosing these two words meditate and delight. Spending time with God should bring me delight and not be a burden. It isn’t a box to tick on my to-do list, but an overflowing of my heart as I meditate on scripture. Who is with me? I am taking the pressure off this year and learning to desire, crave and long for the word. I want to dive deeply into the scriptures and see His face ever so clearly. I am turning away from the guilt and weight, and choosing to enjoy, yearn for and delight in scripture. Everyone worships differently. We learn and reflect in many different ways. Here are just a few ideas that I have found helpful to delight and meditate in the word: 1. Write it down I have recently had my eyes opened to the world of calligraphy, lettering and drawing. I find so much joy in grabbing a pen, paper, my bible and a cup of tea and just writing down scripture. I write the words slowly, deepening meaning and then decorate the words in wreathes, flowers and leaves. The options are endless but there is something magical about slowly writing words of scripture as if you are writing them on your heart (Psalm 119:11) Similarly colouring in scripture can be a lovely way to delight and meditate in the Word. See Lorien Atwood and Paige Tate’s books. 2. Songs of praise I have always loved to sing. I don’t know about you but singing songs to the Lord has to be one of my favourite forms of worship. I love singing corporately at church, in the car, in the shower, while I’m drawing, and especially along with my husband playing guitar. Sometimes at church when I close my eyes I imagine I am singing to Jesus alone, without another soul, and it is just perfect. 3. Trust yourself God has given you what you need to understand the word - the Holy Spirit! Trust yourself and just open the bible. Choose a book and jump right in! The only think you need is time, a bible and to listen when He speaks. Spending time with Jesus daily can often seem like a big commitment. BUT… choosing to spend time with him will be the best decision you will make! Remember that our Lord is a faithful, patient and loving Father. My mistake is I often forget this and imagine a tyrant with a list of all of the days I forgot about Him. Instead he longs to whisper his secrets to us and hear us singing praises to him. Psalm 119:2 Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart. Lucy is a primary teacher from Sydney. She is passionate about social justice and loves serving her local community in practical ways. She is wife to husband Elliot, enjoys blogging on Hunt and Gather and loves spending her days teaching.