Monday, March 16, 2015

Slowly, purposefully meditating, contemplating, and pondering the Word

Friday, March 13, 2015, Personal blessings and prayer journaling

I think one of the greatest errors we make with Your Word today, Lord, is rushing through it so we can check off the box and feel good about ourselves. There. We did it. Now, we can move on and do other (more) important things, or at least that is what our actions say.

Lord, that could be said about me far more often than I care to admit. However, I need to acknowledge this and try to change this.

Through the rushing through Your Word, through a Bible study or a yearly Bible reading, we do a grave disservice to Your Word. In rushing to make the checkmark of "done" in the real or imagined To Do box, we fail to fully think through Your Word. In doing so, we then misunderstand the Word and then fail to apply the Word correctly. We do not allow it to sink in and enjoy it. And, far more importantly, we fail to listen to You (fully) regarding Your Word, the Bible. Through these rushing failures or errors, we miss so much. We miss You and the fullness and abundant life You have planned for us.

Hence, Abba, I hope to glean as much out of the following verse as possible:

Philippians 4:6 New Living Translation (NLT)

6 Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

I want to get as much as possible out of this verse, and all others, as possible. I want to make sure I listen to You, fully, about it and not rush off to the next few person, place, thing, or event that steals my attention.