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Yesterday's SheReadsTruth devotional was on not just reading the Word, but living it. As soon as I read that post, I knew instantly that God was putting those words on my heart for a reason.
"We can’t just read Truth, we have to live Truth.
We can’t just skim passages. We have to plant them in us.
We can’t just speed read verses. We have to do what they say.
We can’t look at our faces in the mirror every morning and memorize who we are in Him, then go out into the world and immediately forget what we look like" -Sarah Matheney
Living it out, not just reading it--tough stuff, right? And honestly, the reading-only gal is exactly who I've been lately. I could use the excuse of exhaustion and stress, but let's be honest, those just aren't valid excuses. These past few days I've found myself skimming some readings and keeping my prayers short. I've been reading the words, but haven't let them sink past the surface.
And all of this short-cutting has really taken its toll in my faith. It's made me feel stale, made me feel tired, made me feel icky inside. I haven't had that fire, that passion, and that energy as I've had in the past. And I hate it. Like really, and truly hate it. And I also miss it, too.
So here's to new days.
Fresh beginnings.
A chance to be refreshed and renewed by our Father.
Here's to living the Truth, and not just reading it.
Here's to letting His Word sink deeper than my skin.
And here's to the end of the shortcuts and the beginning of something new.
Have you been reading this month's SheReadsTruth in James? I'm really loving it so far, especially since we're studying one of my top three favorite books of the Bible!
Wow! so SO needed this, Kiki! I've been in that boat lately. And when you think about it, it is not the fun (and definitely not prosperous) boat to be in...
ReplyDeleteI've heard a lot of blogging ladies talk about She Reads Truth. Aprilparently I need t check it out...:)
I'm glad and comforted that this not only spoke to you but that you can relate, too. It's definitely not a fun or prosperous boat to be in but it's good to know that I'm not the only one who's been in it! :)
DeleteAnd I definitely recommend reading along with SheReadsTruth! I honestly haven't found a (free!) devotional series that really and truly speaks to me each and every day. Let me know if you start reading along! :)
This one spoke out to me so much last night! The sentence that convicted my heart was ""The gap" is the difference between the Word we read and the Word we live . . . We can't just read Truth, we have to live Truth". That is some good stuff right there!!!
ReplyDeleteSame here! This is probably my most favorite read in SheReadsTruth in a long time. I love SheReadsTruth and I especially love how I can connect with other bloggers through it, too. There's something truly amazing about the blogging community, isn't there? :)
DeleteAnd yes, the gap. That was definitely a powerful analogy for me and it's truly stuck with me since!
thanks for the encouragement girl!
ReplyDeleteI am doing the James study too :) So good!
You are so welcome! I'm glad you were encouraged by it. :)
DeleteAnd I'm also glad that you're reading along with SheReadsTruth, too! It's been such a great study this month and now I'm excited to read today's devotional!
Yes it is such a great devotional study :) I'm so glad i found it.
Deletethis was my favorite day of the study of james so far with she reads truth! when i read about "the gap", HELLO. it was like God was speaking right TO me. i think it opened a lot of eyes, actually. i want to LIVE His Truth, not just read it. like you said, i want it to soak more than skin deep.
ReplyDeleteI agree- this has been my favorite thus far as well! We have to truly embrace and live out His Truth, because by being living testimonies to His Word and Truth, people see Christ's love & wisdom reflected in us and can seek Him for themselves too.
DeleteAmber--I so agree! As soon as I read it, I knew that I had to write a blog post on it, it was just that good. :)
DeleteThe gap analogy really and truly spoke to me, too. When I read it, it was as if everything clicked inside and I had that aha moment of sorts. God was definitely speaking right to me in that moment as well and I love that we both felt and heard His voice through the devotional. :)
Melissa Ann--I love that you also connected with yesterday's SheReadsTruth as well! It definitely was a wonderful reminder that we need to do more than just read His Word, we need to live it out, too. :)
DeleteI love she reads truth! I haven't been following the plan lately but I check in out it every once in awhile. I love this one especially :) Perfect metaphor!
ReplyDeleteSame! That metaphor really was perfect. It was exactly what I needed to read last night and it was like a lightbulb went off or something because as soon as I read it, I knew that God was not only speaking to me but He was calling me to change my attitude and start living for Him, not just for myself. :)
DeleteYes, so true! I was telling my Bible study group that I sometimes fall into the habit of doing my devotional, but not wholeheartedly - I don't want to skim, I want to dig in! Thanks for the reminder!
ReplyDeleteLove,
-Bess-
P.S.: Did you see the photo of my "wonky" clay cup on my 2 truths & a lie reveal? I posted it just for you! =)
http://bessbag.blogspot.com/2013/10/2-truths-lie-reveal.html
Yes, you nailed it, girl! I definitely fall into the habit of reading/skimming and not really reading it fully. Just today I found myself doing that while scrolling through my instagram feed and while it's not the same as reading His Word, it was a wake-up call to me that I need to stop living life in this fast-forward pace and instead start savoring each moment and living in the here and now. :)
DeleteAnd yes! I just read your post and so love that you posted a photo, too!
I haven't been following this devotional...but this is definitely encouraging me to!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you found this to be encouraging! SheReadsTruth is a great devotional and I really do recommend it if you ever get a chance to read their blog or download the app for it! :)
Deletehmmmm such good thoughts.
ReplyDeleteI have the shereadstruth plan on my bible app, but haven't been following it if i'm being honest.
I haven't been reading my bible like I should, but I've slowly been going through mark - at night. I need to change this to where I at least give myself time to journal and really soak it in. - because seriously, mark 4 -5 is blowing my mind. so much theology and application that it is sometimes overwhelming.
I definitely need to process it more than just "let me read these three verses and think on them before I pass out"
Aaaaahhh, you pretty much nailed it for me. Adjusting to new schedules and changing my body's clock has been crazy for me this past month if I'm honest and I'm only now getting to a point where I'm in bed at night and not falling asleep when I start my prayer journaling and Bible reading. And even though I'm better adjusted, it doesn't mean that I don't have dry patches in my faith when I find myself skimming instead of letting it sink in! :)
DeleteI'll have to check out Mark 4-5 again sometime! I've been reading through the Bible backwards (Revelation first) and am in Proverbs right now, so you could say it's been awhile since I've read through Mark. It sounds like a good read, though!