Purpose: Why I Read My Bible

I attended a ladies lunch last spring where Cindy Schaap was speaking. She was talking about the importance of reading the Bible and she said "No one needs to see me without Jesus." Isn't that the truth! I am a sad, miserable mess on my own. I have nothing to offer and no good to show for myself. But with Jesus I can be anything He wants me to be. I can be a wife that encourages and builds up my husband. I can be a mom that loves and trains my child(ren). I can be a homemaker that creates a place of refuge for my family and guests. I can be a soul-winner that impacts my generation for Christ. I can be a lady who shows the world joy in following God. But I can do none of that on my own.

What does this have to do with reading my Bible? The Bible is what changes me. The Bible is how God teaches me Who He is and what He wants me to be. The Bible is what enables me to renew my spirit daily to serve my family and, boy, they are glad I do that! I can draw upon God's strength to get through my day and whatever the day brings.

So I read my Bible in the morning before the rest of my family is up. I moved off our really comfy couch where I had a tendency to fall asleep to the kitchen table where I can brighten the chandelier and stay awake. I read to learn about Jesus not to mark it off my to-do list. I read a little in the afternoons while my little boy is sleeping to renew my spirit. I eat more than once a day, don't I? And you know what? I look forward to it. When I am really struggling or having a hard time dealing with something time in my Bible gives me the strength to get through it with a cheerful spirit.

Sometimes I don't notice an immediate change. I may wonder if reading the Bible is really doing me any good. But I can look back over the past year and see some ways that God has changed me. And I know it's all from the Bible. And besides that, God commands me to read my Bible. And God always blesses obedience.

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Purpose: How I Use My Time

What I do with my time shows what is important in my life. Do I fritter time away on the internet? Waste time watching tv? Read books when I need to be cleaning? Straighten closets when I need to play with my little boy? Find busy activities when I need to spend time with my husband? No matter what my words say my actions will show what's true.

I am trying to be more purposeful with my time. Spend time wisely on the appropriate activity. Hopefully none of my activities are wrong, but they may be wrong when done at the wrong time. It helps me to have a schedule and know what I am trying to accomplish when. Am I studying my Bible? Ok, I need to remove all distractions, including that temptation to go to sleep. Am I spending time with my husband? Ok, step away from the computer and look at him! Am I playing with my little boy? Ok, stop thinking about all that needs to be done in the house. Make a list and take care of it later.

It's amazing how many things I can fit into my schedule. I can get so much done just by thinking about why I am doing something and when's the best time to do it. We are only given so much time. And we are all given the same amount of time. What are you doing with yours?

"See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is." Eph. 5:15-17

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Never Lose the Purpose

Usually I start out something new with a purpose. And I can go several weeks on the excitement of doing something new and succeeding. But if I forget my purpose, the shine wears off of that activity and it grinds to a halt. That can be very, very bad; not only for me, but also my family.

I'm doing a study in Deuteronomy on raising children. Deuteronomy is full of admonitions to parents. And I was considering the reason I discipline Micah, I was a little surprised to realize that I had forgotten the purpose of my discipline. It's not so that Micah behaves (although that's nice). I discipline so that Micah will grow up knowing there are consequences to sin. God always sees and He can never overlook sin. There are consequences, good or bad, to every decision we make, every word we say, every thing we do. I want Micah to obey me now so that He obeys God later.

Will that make a difference in how I discipline? Of course it will! When I realize something that important is on the line I will find myself being more consistent and deliberate in my child-rearing.

What about my purpose as a wife? My purpose as a homemaker? As a blogger? What's my purpose for getting up early? Why am I striving to stay at home more instead of being involved in lots of activities? Why do I study my Bible?

I think as we get ready to start this new year I will be looking at the reason I do what I do. And I might share some of it with you. I suspect that rediscovering our purpose will change our outlook about the most minor parts of our days.

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