Last year around this time, I decided I needed to make a couple of New Year’s Resolutions. My plan was to keep it simple so to accommodate my inability to multi-task. I decided to read the Bible more, pray more, and exercise regularly.
I did not fare so well in accomplishing these resolutions, but I did learn a few things.
1) Reading the Bible more- When I open the Bible, basically to anywhere besides maybe the letters, I would be always thinking: what does this mean? (I guess I’m really thinking- how is this relevant to me? I have this problem today that I need some answers to!) I got tired of it pretty fast. Some thoughts came to mind around that time-What if though, I start looking at reading the Bible as this is God’s letter to us to tell us about Himself? What if reading the Bible is a way for us to spend time with God (yes, novel!) and get to know Him more? What if I’m sitting here without an agenda but just to study and admire God?
2) Praying more- I’m a worrywart, so my prayers are usually about whatever is worrying me at the moment. Usually, I keep worrying about it and then pray some more about it (yes, as if it’s how much I bug God that will get Him to give me what I want). What if, though, prayer is really another way by which we get to know God more? We come before Him with all our worries and requests, but we need to also then sit back and listen to what He has to say to us. He is not a genie or even a business partner! He wants us to know Him and have a relationship with Him! Good prayer then need to partner with good Bible reading so we’ll know what He’s saying.
This semester at Salt and Light, we will look together at some of the ways that God has provided for us to become closer to Him. Only as we know Him can we grow to become the people He’s called us to be. In fact, in John 15, Jesus used the image of Him being the vine and us being the branches. The branches will not be able to get their sustenance without the vine! We need to regularly draw from Him to live- let alone live the lives He’s called us to live.
So please come join us this Friday as we look first at the topic of prayer!
(As for the exercise resolution, I’m more at a lost. Although this may help: http://health.discovery.com/national-body-challenge/get-started.html)
JL
