Dear Ones,
Hope you have a day of sunshine! I am catching up after being gone over the weekend and am going to make Al’s favorite cookies and other dishes to put in the freezer.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
It is great to read the Bible each day and to do so with an open heart. There are many people that study the Bible to gain knowledge and many facts, and even memorize a lot of verses. Others may go to the Word as if searching for a genie that will give them what they want if they claim the right verses, etc. But if we want to be transformed to be like Jesus, we have to come to the Word humbly, readily admitting our sin, and with an open repentant heart. If we read the Word and let it read us, we will find it leads us to greater love for the Lord and others. Just knowing facts won’t change our lives, but if we read the Bible to let it change us, we will have more love for the Lord and others. The real test is the quality of our love.

We are not to read the Bible to reinforce some of our own viewpoints that might be different than others, but to be open to what the Holy Spirit would teach us. Only then will we be transformed into His likeness. We can ask the Lord to teach us truth in our inner selves as David did in Psalm 51:6, “Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.” He goes on to ask God to create in him a clean heart and to renew a right spirit within him. His heart is soft and open to receive.

I think we have all heard preaching with long portions of scripture read and Bible studies where fine points are discussed at length, and yet we go home and wonder how it will bring change to my life. How can I apply it, and does it bring me closer in my relationship to Him? How much better small portions of scripture that we can meditate on and ask the Holy Spirit what He might be saying and showing us in a new way. We need to read the Word with our heart and ask that its message flow into us. I often think: what is the importance of what I am reading? If it is just factual, I have missed it. But if leads me closer to the Lord, applying the Word and obeying, then it is like manna to my soul.  Let us remember that, “it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for His good pleasure. (Phil. 2:13)
Challenge for today: Read scripture with a humble, open, expectant heart with the desire to be transformed into His image.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy