We have a book of instructions from God. The Bible gives us instruction on what to do in hard times. It gives us instruction on how to live. The Bible teaches us from history about men and women who faced problems we face now and how they handled them. We can use the Bible to help us or we can let it sit all week and just use it for church. The choice is up to us.
However, according to God’s word, we are to study continually. We are to meditate all day and night. We are to obey all that is written. We can’t do that if we don’t have time alone with God. We can’t do that if we are rushing through our day and through our week. We have to take deliberate time with God and read His word.
Joshua 1:8 “Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.”
Some people use excuses that they don’t like to read. Others have no time to read. Excuses that we don’t like to do something are just excuses. We don’t like to go to work but we do in order to make money to live on. Excuses that we don’t have time are just excuses. We all have the same time in the day and we all have choices to do what we want to do.
The Bible tells us to meditate on God’s word. Some read so quickly that they don’t take time to think about what they read and apply it to their lives. Some read God’s word and think that particular part of the Bible doesn’t apply to them. All of God’s word applies to our lives. When we read a verse and let it roll around in our mind and ask God what he wants us to learn from this, then we are ready to receive His answer.
Listening to what God has to say is important as well. Not only do we need to study and meditate, we need to listen. God will place something on our minds and hearts that we cannot shake. God will show us something during the day that reminds us of what we studied about in His word. God will talk to us in different ways so we need to be ready all day and night to hear him. Getting distracted by the world is one way to miss the opportunity to listen.
Studying, meditating and listening are all important ways to follow God’s will; however, action is important. We need to take action on what God reveals to us. When He uses the word obey, He wants us to take action. We can’t follow His will by just doing one of the things God tells us to do. Each of them is important; however, putting all of them together is when we are really obeying God.
Prayer is a wonderful thing but it is just the beginning. Prayer lines us up in the right frame of mind when we allow the Holy Spirit to work through us. Prayer gets us started by focusing on God and what He can do working in our lives. When we take prayer lightly, we can’t be effective in the other instructions God gives us. We have to be intentional. It begins with prayer, then study, meditation, listening and action. “Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.” That’s how we can make a difference.
Frances Lucas has lived in Birmingham, Alabama for over 40 years. She is a working mother with three children and has progressively improved her life through mistakes, persistence and a sense of humor. Her passion in life surfaced after a major setback in life which proves good things can come from bad experiences. Frances coaches in career and personal improvement, facilitates self-improvement classes and writes articles.
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