Don’t Read your Bible Today

  Do you ever feel like you’re going through the motions in your walk with God? Like you read your Bible because you have to, and pray because you feel like you should?

It seems to me like whenever I try to do what’s right in my own strength, I end up failing. Sure I could commit to reading the Bible every day or waking up really early to pray and do Bible study. But I’ve learned time and time again that if my heart is not in it, then I don’t get much out of it. I go through the motions. So what are we supposed to do?

You know what I think? I think we really need to stop trying so hard. We need to stop forcing ourselves to pray and read the Bible simply because “it’s the right thing to do.” I think that God is patient with us, and would rather hear our complaints and excuses then to hear us try to do things on our own and fail. I’m not saying we should be deliberately give up just because it’s hard. What I am saying is that we need to be real with God. Talk to God and be honest. There are numerous examples in the Psalms when David cries out with brutal honesty about his fears, his lack of trust, or the terrible life situations he is going through. And you know what? God never rebuked David for his lack of faith. God was there even more in the moments when he lacked faith, because when we are weak, he is stronger. When we realize that we cannot do things on our own, we learn to trust more in God. That is perhaps why David was one of the greatest kings of Israel, because he was real with God, and it made a difference in his life.

Let’s just look at another case example from Scripture to better illustrate what I mean. Not too long after Jesus had risen from the dead and the Apostles started preaching in Jerusalem there were people given over everything they owned so that they might serve God better (no one was ever asked to give up anything). And this couple, Ananias and Sapphira, for whatever reason also decided it would be a good idea to sell their possessions but keep some of the money back. God decides to do something about it, and their punishment was swift: the both of them fell over dead immediately after being accused by Peter.

So what’s the point of this little story? The point is God doesn’t need our money, or our prayers, or anything else from us. The one thing God wants is the one thing we most loathe to give away: our hearts! Just think what a change it would make in our lives if instead of having to wake up early to pray to God we actually wanted to wake up early to meet with Him. Or if instead of having to tithe our 10% “duty”, we gave whatever was in our hearts to give?

Why do you think Jesus said that the greatest commandment is simply to love?  

My challenge to each and every one of you reading this, the next time you talk to God, don’t just follow the same old pattern of “dear heavenly father, bless me, and help them, and thanks for food and shelter, amen.” Why not actually talk to Him like he’s actually there listening to you? Read the Bible as if he’s actually speaking to you. Make it personal. Journal if it’s easier for you, but express to God what you’re actually feeling. Let God into your heart, because the real source of change is not actually us, but it is God working in us, from the inside-out.