I'm having trouble being consistent in valuing God's Word. Suggestions?

Question

More often than not, I rely on the advice of other Christians, Christian online blogs, even devotional material and commentary written by theologians... instead of delving my heart into God's Word in and of itself. I have only heard about the immense beauty of it, and have pretended to have experienced it... but truly, I've never actually felt it working in my life... only indirectly through the abovelisted mediums.

Please help me! I want to see the beauty of God's Word, but cannot seem to be able to even if I sit down with a Bible and try to read it for a period of time.

Answer 1

It takes effort.

Answer 2

There are several things Christians should do besides obey the Great Commandment [ love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and all your mind ], the second
[ love your neighbor as your self ] and the Great Directive
[ go therefore and make disciples of all nations ].
1] Worship - you should have a nourishing spiritual home that you support and share worship with.
2] Pray - [ pray without ceasing ]. I frequently talk to God when alone, but prayer should include praise to God, confession of sins, request for forgiveness of sins, and help when you need it.
3] Tithe - here is where I lose half my audience. Contribute 10% of your income, as well as your time and your talents to the church and charity work.
4] Study - always try to learn more - in a church class, a study group, or on your own. The more you know, the more you like, and the greater desire to learn more.
5] Witness - talk to others about your belief, and whatever you are having trouble understanding/believing.When you get more secure, you will be able to talk to strangers who have questions.
I don't know how old you are, but God has been God to me.
I have had trees fall on me [ twice! ] with no injury, ruptured brain aneurysm with emergency brain surgery, and breast
cancer with mastectomy, chemo, and radiation. The only thing that really helped through all that was Faith in God, and a sense of humor.[ and family support ]
P.S. listen to Dan, and get a user friendly Bible. Go with a full stomach, and plan to spend about an hour picking out your new Bible.

Answer 3

I appreciate your confession and would like to encourage you that you are not alone by any means. In fact, I think there are probably more Christians like yourself than the ones that seriously search scripture for themselves. The only problem is when you totally rely on other's teachings and opinions, you may adopt some really false doctrines along the way. God wants us to test the spirits, always, whether they be of Him or something else. It's important that you be familiar with the Word yourself, hide it in your heart. It's your best protection from the world and Satan. Having said that, I would suggest the following:

1. Get a Bible translation that is easy reading. I suggest a Bible for teens, if you have a problem understanding (or even if you don't), because these types speak in everyday language and have a way of keeping your interest. If you are not accustomed to the King's English, the King James can get boring and laborous at times. (I actually prefer it for it's beauty and flow).
2. Set a goal for yourself. I used to use a system that I learned from Bill Gothard a long time ago. If I remember correctly, you get up an hour earlier than normal each morning. First you read one chapter in Proverbs every day of the week (there are 31 chapters). Then start over the next month. You will be surprised how much you learn with this simple little system. It will amaze you, I promise.
3. You can add to your Proverbs reading or replace it with readings in Psalms. Actually they are supposed to be done together, but I'm phasing you into the whole system by dividing it here. You read 5 chapters of Psalms each day, and continue consequtively through the month. When there are 31 days in the month you read Psalm 119, skipping it during the middle of the month because it is so long. Here again, you will learn so much about God's character and so much that applies to your own life, it is amazing.
4. You might want to forget the above methods, though I highly reccomend them....and go straight to the Gospels. Just pick any of them; Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John and begin to read. Here you will learn basic doctrine about salvation and learn about Jesus. Here is the beginnings of Christianity and you will see the church come alive through the disciples and Jesus' life. These are simple doctrines every Christian should be knowledgable in. And they are not hard reads, either.

The main thing is make a decision to daily stick to your commitment of reading a little everyday. You may find you build excitement as you go along. God usually wants us to act first and He will add the desire if we show Him our determination to please Him. You are in for a blessing if you determine to pursue knowing Him. His Word is the absolutely best way to get to know Him and He will speak specifically to you through it. I pray you will set it in your heart to delve into the Word on a determined, regular basis. It is a good thing that you desire. God bless you.

Answer 4

I don't understand how disgruntled got to level 4 answering sensitive questions such as this one with no apparent thought to the feelings that the asker may be experiencing. The answer, I feel was of no value at all. The first thing to do is be sure you have a Bible that is easy to read. I suggest a Ryrie Study Bible, or a New American Standard Bible. You need to be alone, with no distractions around. Pray before you read. In Matthew, I believe chapter six, Jesus teaches how to pray. In another place in the Bible, I'm sorry, but I don't remember where, we are told to pray in secret, meaning alone in the house, in your room, or anywhere you can be alone. Remember two things. 1. God Loves You! 2. He who has begun a good work in you will carry it on to completion. Philipians 1:6. Continue with available support from other Christians. DON'T GIVE UP!!! The peace and joy from living a "true" Christian life, is worth the effort. I hope I have helped.

Answer 5

No attempting out could desire to ever teach the Bible to be something however the effects of somebody's mind's eye. If that's what human beings propose by potential of God's inspired be conscious, then what i'm writing on the 2d is basically as valid with the aid of fact the Bible content fabric even nevertheless i'm an atheist.

Answer 6

I hear you! The way I have found works for me is, the church I go to has a bible study. I have found I understand better when I have the discipline of an outlined time and place to go and study the bible. For instance, our ladies' bible study is every Thursday night, September through May. We do break for Christmas and Easter, but every week we get a lesson on whatever book we are studying; this year it was Daniel. I tell you, it's been ten years and my life has turned around over and over again.

Find a structure that works for you. Small group, larger group, self study? Whatever works, do it. These days, it is so very important to know, and keep in our hearts, God's word.

Answer 7

There's nothing wrong with relying on those means, I don't think. I don't think the bible is self-describing in the same way a comic book is. It is really hard, and I think it takes work.

Bible study takes practice. And aids can really help. For instance, for me, the Gospel of John came to life when I spent some time watching the Gospel of John film with Henry Ian Cusick.

Ignatian meditation is a really good approach to gospel study, I find, because you use it to create your own study aides.

The methodology is basically to put yourself on the scene of a passage in the gospel. I read it for all the clues needed to create a picture in my head. Then I do it sort of like this:

"I am in the wadi near Jesus, 2,000 years ago. Look around me - what do I see? Crowds of people surrounding him. It is hot, and everyone is tired. Iook at the people - what is in their eyes, what do they expect of him? What are they trying to receive from him? What am I trying to receive from him?"

By doing this you create your own "devotional material and commentary" as you go. :-)

Here's a good outline for this method, in Word format:

http://it.geocities.com/donjimusa/IgnatianMeditation.rtf

And if you want a little encouragement or have any more questions about it, don't hesitate to email me.

Answer 8

The only way to learn it is to just get in and study the word. I recommend you get a Key Word Hebrew/Greek Study Bible. It comes with a Strong's concordance, but if you are like me and the print in their Strong's is to little, grab you a Strong's as well. the just read and study using the Scripture and the Original meanings in the original languages.

Answer 9

First Suggestion: Start small, try 5 minutes a day. Before you start reading pray "Father, I know this is your word and that you want to speak to me through it. Holy Spirit please come and fill me and help me to understand what I read and give me the courage to apply it to my own life"

Second Suggestion: Think of a specific topic - like "Love" - and then do your own bible study on that topic. This will encourage you to read but also give context to your reading.

Answer 10

You have put your finger on the classic struggle between the spirit and the flesh. One is willing and the other is weak. But don't give up, be patient and persevere.

James likens our dilemna as if we were farmers waiting for the rains to water, and then the precious fruit of the earth.

Daily, get as much of God's word as you can; read it, hear it and memorize it, and then... comes the fruit of His Word.

Answer 11

Reading other material is to read other people's opinion. To develop a personal relationship with God you will have to get to know God. The only way you are going to be able to do that is to read the bible. The good news is they have bibles for all age groups. "Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God".

Examine yourself. Why do you think that is? Wouldn't you like to know for sure if you are a child of God? Wouldn't you like to know for sure if you are obeying your heavenly Father? And wouldn't you like to talk to Him and have Him talk back? If the answers are yes. The only way is to read and believe.