Well, I have obviously taken a very long break from blogging, but am back online. It is one of my New Year's aspirations (I like that word much more than resolution) to be a more faithful blogger and to get to know others through this wonderful medium!! That said, I managed to grab some much needed quiet time this morning and asked God, as always, for a word I might take with me today. Of course, he was happy to oblige and convict at the same time!! :-) The message came from the book of Job.
I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread. Job 23:12
It was the second part of this verse that struck me this morning, "I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread." As some of you know, I like food a lot. I enjoy thinking about what I'm going to eat throughout the course of the day. I look forward to eating out at a nice restaurant or cooking a nice dinner with a decadent dessert as much as my boys look forward to getting a new Alivin and the Chipmunks toy. It's probably fair to say that my mouth doesn't water over reading my Bible as much as it does over the prospect of a "Monster Cookie" at Cheddars!! And yet, it's the bread of the Bible that's going to strengthen, enrich, encourage and sustain me over the course of my life, not the cookie dripping in fat and sugar.
This verse doesn't have to be talking about food alone, however. Our "daily bread" could be a myriad of things. Maybe we treasure our money, or treasure making money, more than the words of God's mouth. Maybe it's our job that is calling us away from God's Word, or our busy schedules, or our kids' busy schedules. I think that most of us could point to something (or many somethings) in our lives that we treasure more than time with God. But when we take the time to carve out those quiet places of reflection, when we make a conscious decision to put God first and to treasure his Word more than the other things in our lives, then our lives become more fulfilled, more enriched, more focused and more productive than before.
"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:21, Luke 12:34
Jesus knew the absolute importance of placing God first. He knew that what we value, what we spend our time and energy on, would make it's way into the very fabric of our being. And shouldn't the very fabric of our being be made from the One who created us in the first place?
In this New Year, I want to treasure God's Word above all else. I want to let God lead and follow where he goes.
Blessings and Peace,
Sara
I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread. Job 23:12
It was the second part of this verse that struck me this morning, "I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread." As some of you know, I like food a lot. I enjoy thinking about what I'm going to eat throughout the course of the day. I look forward to eating out at a nice restaurant or cooking a nice dinner with a decadent dessert as much as my boys look forward to getting a new Alivin and the Chipmunks toy. It's probably fair to say that my mouth doesn't water over reading my Bible as much as it does over the prospect of a "Monster Cookie" at Cheddars!! And yet, it's the bread of the Bible that's going to strengthen, enrich, encourage and sustain me over the course of my life, not the cookie dripping in fat and sugar.
This verse doesn't have to be talking about food alone, however. Our "daily bread" could be a myriad of things. Maybe we treasure our money, or treasure making money, more than the words of God's mouth. Maybe it's our job that is calling us away from God's Word, or our busy schedules, or our kids' busy schedules. I think that most of us could point to something (or many somethings) in our lives that we treasure more than time with God. But when we take the time to carve out those quiet places of reflection, when we make a conscious decision to put God first and to treasure his Word more than the other things in our lives, then our lives become more fulfilled, more enriched, more focused and more productive than before.
"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:21, Luke 12:34
Jesus knew the absolute importance of placing God first. He knew that what we value, what we spend our time and energy on, would make it's way into the very fabric of our being. And shouldn't the very fabric of our being be made from the One who created us in the first place?
In this New Year, I want to treasure God's Word above all else. I want to let God lead and follow where he goes.
Blessings and Peace,
Sara
Good word today Sara, its good to have you back.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sydney! It's good to be back!!
ReplyDelete