Hearing the Lord’s voice is such a gift. Since He is known to be a bit on the quiet side, speaking in a gentle whisper to our soul in silence, we have to work a bit harder to be sure we are hearing what He is trying to say.
I love that we can hear Him through the Scriptures. What a beautiful thing to learn this Lent. It has been a journey of understanding on a deeper level something that I think I “knew” in a superficial way. I have grown up hearing how the Bible is God’s Word. If it is his Word, then it must be how he speaks… seeing as how we use words when we speak.
He is alive and longing to talk with me, if I’d just come to His Word and listen. But, it took me a while to realize that this is a conversation He wants to have with me. It’s more than just old stories about the past.
Don’t get me wrong. I’ve been to so many Bible studies over the years. Why is it different now? One reason is that I’m not just doing this as an intellectual endeavor that looks at the history and the theological meaning. All of that’s great and has been a huge help in better understanding why I believe what I believe.
But now, I’m using this time to sit at His feet and rediscover the Mary within. I’m being intentional and slowing down when I read. Oh, and I’m actually reading every day.
I think, that for too many of us, we just hear Scripture at church on Sunday. But opening up the book and reading for ourselves is vital to a strong relationship with Jesus. We should be taking these stories that we’ve heard so many times and make them come alive instead letting them become boring.
I mean, we think we already know what’s going to happen. God’s going to tell them how to behave. They are going to do okay for a little while and then turn away. This guy is going to be healed. Some Jews are going to get mad. Jesus is going to walk on water and the apostles are going to be scared and amazed.
Come on, we have all heard that, seen that, and watched the movie. But, there is so much more!
Here’s what I now know after a little over a week into Lent.
I must take the time to:
Invite the Holy Spirit into my quiet time,
Open up the Scriptures
Read slowly, imagining myself in the story,
Seek what the Lord wants to say to me in these words.
Have you been trying this? If not, please do. It will make a huge impact.
Here’s a short version of what I’ve learned over the last two days of swimming in the daily readings. (See the passages below)
1. The Lord wants me to understand that I don’t think like He does quite yet. I still have to learn that He is just and merciful and will do things in ways that I may not expect, but that are good and true. Basically, He wants me to stop whining and complaining. I don’t know everything.
“You say, “The Lord’s way is not fair!” Hear now, house of Israel: Is it my way that is unfair, or rather are not your ways unfair?” Ezekiel 18:25
2. Doing just enough to get by won’t cut it. Jesus told his disciples that their “righteousness must surpass that of the scribes and Pharisees or they will not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:20
After He said this, I started thinking, “Well, that can’t be that hard. Those guys were always being so judgmental, it’s not like I have to go too far to be better.” Then Jesus began giving concrete examples of how to do this and I realized He is pulling that narrow road lesson on me again.
Don’t kill. Easy enough. Wait, what? Don’t be angry? Oh, boy!
Don’t come before the Lord if I have not made it right with others that I have offended. But, that was all in the past? Why bring it all up again? Can’t we just pretend it didn’t happen? Apparently not.
Don’t hold grudges. Make it right and find a way to get along with those you find difficult.
I’m sure I’m going to need a lot of Grace to get all of this right.
How about you pray for me and I’ll pray for you? With Him, we can do this!
And one last thought. When you start reading scripture intentionally, watch out. You may learn more than you bargained for.
XOXO,
Barb
Friday’s Readings Ezekiel 18:21-28, Psalm 130, Matthew 5:20-26
Saturday’s Readings Deuteronomy 26:16-19, Psalm 119, Matthew 5:43-48
Reflections of a Cute Lil Mom 