There have been times in my life where I have not opened my bible for weeks.  Days turn to weeks and before you know it, weeks do turn to months.  It is a sad confession, but one that I feel I'm not alone in within the church.  So many of us feel as though going to church is our checklist of THE WORD for the week, and that whatever our pastor says from the stage is enough to get us through the rest of the week.  Y'all I can say this because I have been there.  If this is you, you are not alone, and this is not the end.  You can get back in the word.  I promise.  I'm a walking, talking example of this.

This past week I have heard three things that have challenged me so much in my walk with the LORD this week, that I want to share and give full credit to the person that brought these words to me.

First was last week at my Women's Development Program (WDP) class at my church.  Fabs was talking about getting and staying in the word and how important that is to our walks as believers.  She said something to the effect that there is no better time than RIGHT NOW to dive into the word.  That stood out to me because I've always been the person that claims that when __________ happens in my life things will easier.  You know what I'm talking about.  When I'm out of college, I'll have more time to study God's word.  When I'm married it will be more convenient.  When I have babies and stay home I'll be a better steward with my time.  Oh my goodness when these kids sleep through the night I'll be more awake in the mornings.  When all my kids are finally in school I'll have more time.  Y'all we can come up with a _____________ for every area of our lives.  NOW IS THE BEST TIME TO DIVE INTO THE WORD.  It won't be easier in your next stage of life, I can promise you that.

Second thing that God has used in my life this week was a verse that Fabs talked about last week.  Jeremiah 15:16 says, “Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart.”  Jeremiah first states here that he found the words and then he ate them and THEN they became a joy to him and a delight to his heart.  He was first obedient to just eating the words.  Before they brought him joy.  Before he understood them all.  Before his heart was delighted in them.  Before all of that he ate them.  Sometimes I feel like we crave the scripture when times are bad.  Or we rely on the three bible verses we learned in VBS when we were in the 5th grade to get us through life.  Jeremiah makes it clear that he FOUND God's word and then he ATE it.  Y'all we need to be reading his word.  The bible is clear that his word will change us.  It will move us and move our hearts towards his heart.  Let's be in the word.  Eat it up!

Thirdly I was traveling and listening to some talks by Wayne Grudem on the clarity of scripture.  I have also been reading Psalm 19 this week and so these two went hand in hand for me.  He spoke about how God made his word for his children to understand.  We can't say that this book is too hard for us.  Psalm 19:7 says “The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple”  Did you see that last part there?  Don't miss it.  Making wise the simple.  God's word is for us to read and comprehend.  It's not just for the priest or the scholars.  It is for US.  In Deuteronomy it says that we are to “teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them while you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”  He's talking about his commandments.  The words he gave his people.   Y'all God knew that we could teach these words to our children, so it's not too hard for them, then it's not too hard for you.

I want to encourage you right now wherever you are.  God loves you.  He is for you.  If you haven't opened your bible in days, weeks, months, or even years today is the best day to start back.  God's word is him talking to us.

Go make yourself a cup of coffee or tea and open up God's word.  Maybe even coffee and chips & salsa – although I recently tried combining these two, since they are two of my favorite foods and I don't recommend. Just pick one!

Spend time in his word  today.  Rest in his love towards you.