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Life can be so challenging sometimes — we each understand this all too well. It’s not only the big things that seem out of our control, but it's also the little things we face each day. We forget our keys. A friend cancels on us. Our bank card gets declined. We wake up anxious. Negative thoughts fill our mind. It doesn’t take much to leave us feeling hopeless, confused, exhausted or stressed. We wonder what God has to say about what we’re experiencing, but sometimes just getting through the next few hours is hard enough. That’s why Proverbs 31 Ministries created the Encouragement For Today Podcast — a collection of 50 devotions to help you start your day with a biblical perspective you can carry with you no matter what lies ahead.
Lysa TerKeurst:
Morning. Do you ever feel overwhelmed when you sit down to read your Bible? Me too. Especially when hurtful situations leave me worn out and worn down, unmotivated to spend time with God. When we are in these desperate places, it's easy to want God to rain down right-now wisdom, full of immediate answers and solutions for what's breaking our hearts. But spending time in God's Word offers us so much more than quick fixes. You see, the Bible doesn't just give us instruction for today. It also plants wisdom in our hearts for the future. How? Well, God already sees everything coming our way, and that means He knows exactly how to begin preparing our hearts today for tomorrow.
I've seen this to be true in my own life. Recently I was at a women's gathering where I was about to walk on the stage and study the Bible with others, and just minutes before, I got a call that sent my anxiety soaring, the tightness in my chest quickly gave way to a flood of tears. The news absolutely devastated me, but I had an assignment before me, so I took a deep breath. I wiped my tears. I whispered the one shred of truth I could remember from Bible verses that had been on repeat in my mind. God is faithful. He is living water for my soul. See Isaiah 55:10-11, John 7:38, John 4:13-14. Then I turned to my friends who were with me and said, "This is what it looks like to walk in the strength of the Lord. Never forget this: He is always faithful."
I stepped into studying Scripture and was astounded by the power of the Holy Spirit that poured out over our gathering. I don't tell you this to highlight my own strength because, frankly, I didn't feel like I had much at that moment. But if you're asking yourself, "Does it really matter if I read God's Word today?" Remember that storing Scripture deep in our hearts prepares us for the unpredictable moments, the unforeseeable circumstances, the moments that take our breath away, leaving us no other option but to trust God to carry us through.
I have found in my own life the days I feel like opening God's Word the least are the days I need God's Word the most. Let's open God's Word today. Whether you feel like it or you're not sure you can, even if it's just one or two verses, read Scripture. You can start with the passages I mentioned earlier or go to one of your old favorites. More than just reading His words, we must choose to receive them. Even more important, we must live them. The more we apply God's teaching to our lives, the more it becomes part of us, for today, for one day, for every day.
Now, here's a statement to remember as we walk into today: The days I feel like opening God's Word the least are the days I need God's Word the most.
A prayer to receive before tomorrow: Jesus, on the days I'm tempted to cut out time spent in Your Word, remind me of what I've read today. Time spent in Your Word is never wasted. Thank You for the way Your words provide direction, instruction and wisdom, both for today and for the future. In Jesus' name, amen.