Dad tells me he longed to know eternal things since childhood. Often his heart and mind were unsettled with constant questions. After tending to his farming duties, he’d sit out in the fields in the hot afternoon. His eyes scoped the scenery around him, he was fascinated with nature and creation. Small in frame and young in age, he’d ask how did the trees and the cows and all creation come into being. As he learned and trusted Jesus Christ as his Savior and Creator, life’s great questions had found their answer. Dad told me he committed to reading the Bible daily since he was 18 years old.
Fresno, California 2019. Sitting there in front of Dad, he had his Bible in front of him. He sat there with his humble old man smile. I began asking him questions. I decided to turn my camera to video and begin interviewing him. I asked, “How many times have you read your Bible through?”
In broken English I hear him say “four to five times…”
In my desire for accuracy and clarification, I ask, “Four or five times?”
He tries his best to enunciate as he utters “45 times or more…”
If I had water in my mouth, I would have spit it out! Amazement oozing from my head and my heart, I laugh! I rejoice upon hearing 45 times!
My Dad has read his Bible through those 66 books over his 78 years… he savors and enjoys reading God’s word over 45 times in his lifetime.
My July Goal, I had called my parents several times a week. I would join in on their evening Bible reading and prayer. At the beginning of Shelter in Place, I caught on to them reading Revelation Chapter 22. Mom said, “After we finish Revelation, we start again in Genesis.” I joined them two days ago and we finished Judges Chapter 2 and it was July 30th. I think it’s amazing they have gone through Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, and Joshua.
Thoughts to consider: Abide. How can you commit time to reading the Bible as a regular daily habit and desire?
Let’s look at how we take in the written word and information:
Media
Channels
Streaming
Gaming
Conversation (face to face and video and phone)
Practicing Mindfulness: ask yourself, how you utilize your time and how you can replace using other activities to doing the reading of the Bible… consider moving from incremental intake to intentional intake.
For me: I sit and read a chapter or a few chapters. I put a dot next to the book of the Bible.
If you have read the Bible through once or more, let me know in the comments.
Suggested Prayer: God, I ask for a hunger and thirst for you and your word. Open my eyes to see how you are working in my life. Grant me a heart of gratitude as I see you in my life working in, through, and around me. I desire to see your presence and power in my life. Show me your great affection. Amen.
Abundant Mommyhood 