30 Days in The Word with Jesus

Wow! I’m having such a phenomenal journey with Jesus. I’m 24 days in to reading the Bible in 30 days. Derek asks me periodically how it’s going and if I’ve been able to keep up. Yesterday when he inquired I said, “Yes, I’ve not missed a day. It’s been wonderful.” “Wow!” He said. He was amazed and impressed. Then he went on to ask how many times I’ve read the Bible in the past few years. I had to think…I read the entire Bible in 2006, read it in 90 days at the end of 2008, 90 day again in the summer of 2009 and now doing 30 days. He knows I love to read, but I told him and his girlfriend there really is no place I’d rather be than in God’s Word.

I’ve always loved when they “catch” me reading the Bible. It’s been quite easy for them to do so this month…breakfast, lunch, evening…almost anytime during the day, I’ll be sitting there with my Bible open in front of me. And I can’t think of a better image to have planted in their sweet little minds.

As a side note, they also get a kick out of “catching” me praying. They’ll knock on my bedroom door and ask to come in. When they open the door, I’ll be sitting in bed with no book and a deep reflective look on my face. “Were you praying?” Zach will ask with a smile on his face. “Yes.” I say. “But that’s okay. God will know where I left off. Come on in.”

Anyway, back to my journey. It’s amazing how spending 3+ hours a day with Jesus has invigorated my faith. Everywhere I go, I bump into Him. He is teaching, guiding and encouraging me with such vibrancy that I sometimes have to breathe in deeply and slowly and then go to my knees just to take it all in.

The Bible has come alive in a way it never has. His words leap off the page, dance in front of me and then wash over my entire being. It’s remarkable. As I’m reading and meditating, I keep a note pad nearby to jot down revelations and encouragement that comes directly from Him. Here are just a few of them:

-- I love all the firsts in Genesis…1st born—Gen 4:1; 1st revival—Gen 4:26; 1st covenant—Gen 9:12; 1st tithe—Gen 28:22
-- Exodus 31:12—the 10 commandments were “inscribed by the finger of God.” I was so moved by the thought of how powerful it would be to hold something like that in my own hand and then I realized I was.
-- Deut 4:24 He is a consuming fire and a jealous God. I meditated on how differently my life unfolds when I put something between God and me.
-- Deut 28—Disobedience is a very bad thing. I need to have reckless obedience.
-- Deut 30:1-10—very encouraging section of the Bible…His goodness…His grace.
Deut 29:18—What poison do I need to get rid of in my life?
-- 2 Sam 15—David wept in the same garden as Jesus. The presence of Jesus in the OT was more powerful than ever.
-- As I read through Kings, I was reminded of how powerful generational sins are. So often it said, “he did not turn away from the sins of his father.” What legacy do I want to leave my boys?
-- Ezra became my new hero—so humble; truly lived out his faith; felt deeply for his people…I want his humility; his compassion; his strength.
-- I loved basking in the majesty of God as He rebuked Job. It took my breath away!

Ecclesiastes 5 sums up my journey best…I stand in awe…let my words be few.