The Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
Message: Digging for Treasure
Time: Proverbs records multiple individuals as its author with Solomon as the principal author. Solomon died in 931 BC though most think the book was likely in its final form sometime before the end of Hezekiah’s reign in 686 BC. It is a book that instructs people on the path of wisdom. It speaks to all of life and living our lives under the authority and direction of God.
What the Lord is Saying: This is another lesson I found of my mom's, from Our Daily Bread (She wrote on the bottom left corner 2005.) Lately, I am struggling once again getting these blog posts (my daily quiet times) completed each day. I wallow from being really productive to now once again, not very productive (and yet am I productive because I churn one out a day - more on that later). I feel like my brain in my thinking capacity has grinded to a halt. And yet, some days are worse than others. I’m sure there’s things like sleep, anger, disappointment or just other responsibilities that start flooding into my life and pull me away from these moments of "digging for treasure." Perhaps that is something my mom saw as well - the constant pull in life for other things.
The reading today mentions 7 guidelines, or maybe for me, reminders or words of encouragement, to keep the word of God front and center in my life.
1. Set aside a regular time. Unless you schedule it, you’ll neglect it.
My observation: I suppose the good news with this admonition is I do attempt the regular time of spending ending time in the Word, though at times things too easily outrank it.
2. Before you start reading, ask God for help and understanding.
My observation: I can’t see this is a practice I’ve ever been good at - asking God prior. I know God is present while I’m reading His Word as it has already been inspired, but perhaps I need to do a better job of committing, whatever time I spend, to Him and seeking His help towards me. One thing I notice is too often I prefer going deep rather than wide. As I study, things get me off track. And there’s so much joy in so many different things (reading, CT reading, online evangelism, journaling). Sometimes it’s really hard for me to finish a lesson once I let it go more than 1 day.
3. Carefully think about what you are reading. Not all of the Bible’s treasures lie like pebbles on the surface. To mine the gold, you have to dig.
My observation: Again, this can be my problem very often. Sometimes my digging doesn’t result in anything greater but just time spent. Ocassionlly, something is memorable but I almost feel like I am expecting the reading of God's word to penetrate me by osmosis.
4. Seek to understand what the author was saying to the first people who read the book or letter before you decide how to apply it today.
My observation: Could I say that this is easier to do when I read the old testament (more historical) than when I read the New Testament? On this blog, I think I challenge myself every time to follow up any reading with a prayer and thar prayer is often a request to God to make application of what I have read to my life.
5. Write down at least one truth or principle you can put into practice.
My observation: Well, writing down my thoughts has never been a problem. But there is a problem of putting it into practice. Since an early age of coming into a relationship with God through Christ has been the encouragement to have a daily quiet time. Perhaps in the quiet time, there is a forced idea that everything I learned must actively be applied. Every Sunday I end up with a lesson in church two times with multiple application points and then often I will read God‘s word during the week and get more points of application. At times, I realize there’s nothing more that I struggle with more than this. At work there are constantly tasks that need to be done. And so often it seems the same thing happens when I leave work and go home and even think about being involved with the church. Everywhere I go there’s more and more application and expectations to do things. I guess this is part of life and a big problem I have in generally to accomplish things. My problem is often I reach a point where it is hard to just sit back and enjoy life, worship, God. And then start to get burned out on everything. Instead of resting on a Sabbath day, I go back-and-forth between working and resting.
6. Try different translations of the Bible. If you find yourself skimming over familiar words, a new translation may focus your mind on the passage in a new way.
My observation: I do this at times but not all the time and maybe that’s OK.
7. Don’t get discouraged. Some parts of the Bible are more interesting than others, and some you may not understand at all. But there’s enough that you can understand, and it will revolutionize your life if you apply it.
My observation: I am good at getting discouraged. Perhaps because I’m good at feeling like I never measure up.
These 7 guidelines were written by Haddon Robinson. Basically I see - schedule it, ask God for help, dig, seek to understand before apply, write it down, use different translations and don't get discouraged.
Prayer: God, I love to read and study and thank you for teaching and training me from an early age to spend this time with you. Thank you for giving me a mom that prioritized this time with You. Help me God to continue to schedule it in my life, come to You for help and prayer, examine it to the point I need to, seek to understand and Holy Spirit help me apply. And help me to not get discouraged. Lord, you are great and I praise You. Be glorified.
Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.
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