Monday, January 10, 2022

It Is Not A Race

 


Ten days into the New Year I am thinking, maybe I am more like a Turtle than a Rabbit. Thoughts of reading through the bible this next year has brought no results, yet! I mean I could catch up or just jump in on that day, the way I do my daily devotional read when I miss a day or two or a week or two. I mark my devotional book with the day I read that section with the date. Example, New Morning Mercies is my daily devotional book and the days I read it I write the year in the corner. The last time I read page January 10 was 2020 so I missed reading it in 2021.  

Early in my walk with God I somehow thought life was a race and we either grow like a turtle or a rabbit.  My personality is like a rabbit and I grew fast those first few years.  The church we were in was a working church, you work out your faith by doing, teaching, working in nursery, work a bus route bringing people, kids mostly to church to Sunday school and children church,  giving, witnessing, etc.  My husband and I were involved all the time in the doings of the church.  But, I am grateful that doing was part of my foundation of how much God loved me.  Not only did He say He would die for my sins, He actually did it.   

As I have aged, those doing years have decreased and changed through the years.  I grow more like a turtle now.  I have time to dig deep into the Word and and research the meanings I know I missed when I was a young child of God.  It has not been easy to go from a rabbit to a turtle but it's the season of my life.  

I am not racing now, I am pacing myself, slowing things down and realizing the guilt that comes from that is not from the Lord.  Oh, I know, some are still going at rabbit pace and if I was into comparing and not being content I would keep looking back to what we use to do.  The use to do days are over,  and I am enjoying the new mercies that my devotional books is all about. Below is something I read recently that has helped me to deal with it when I fail to others expectations of me.  

 Guilt, The Crippling Emotion

Guilt. Rarely has one small word been so widely misunderstood. Guilt is frequently viewed as a virtue, as a high sense of responsibility and morality. The truth, however, is that guilt is the greatest destroyer of emotional energy. It leaves you feeling immobilized in the present by something that has already occurred.

Now don’t misunderstand me: Human beings need to have a conscience. According to Webster’s Third Dictionary a conscience is “the sense of right or wrong within the individual.” Without a conscience we would have no compunction about hurting one another, and the world would be less safe. When your conscience tells you that you have done something wrong, it is important to face it, make amends and learn from your mistake. Staying consumed with guilt, however, will keep you from moving forward in a positive and productive way.

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I still have not started my bible reading for this year.   But, I refuse to live in guilt since I know God does not love me because of how much I read my bible or what bible I read, NOTHING can separate me from the love of God.  Now that is pure grace living.    

How was your start to the new year.  



8 comments:

  1. Hello Wise Hearted.. I love to read the bible. I started years ago trying to keep up with the Bread program, but it was so hard, because you have more or less time each day. I found that picking a book to start with, and just reading it, and then moving on to the next one is much more fulfilling. I would rather read the entire book than space it out over a month or two. Maybe give that a try. And like you said, quit guilting yourself over it. Just read the Bible. No program necessary :) His Word is alive and will feed your soul, whenever you read :) Blessings and hugs!

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    1. How right you are, no program necessary. Teaching a bible study each week helps to make sure I get into the Word.

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  2. I think the life of the Christ-follower is a long-distance race. No sprint. I think it should be slower as we get older, especially if we have been with Jesus for a long time. But I pray for new insights into His Word each day. As for me, I take my time. I read 2 or 3 psalms every day. I read Proverbs every other month. I read a chapter from the NT each day. I'm on my second way through the NT (Galatians 4 this morning). I don't think God really cares how much we read or how often we read but do we read? IMHO. At 69 I still like to see "rabbit growth" but know in my heart it is going to be more "turtle growth."

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    1. It always helps me to be in or teach a bible study since I am in the Word more. I can feast on something the Lord gives for a long time. When He does give me insight I want to go as deep as I can into it. I would rather read through the NT then the OT, I may try that this year. Thanks.

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  3. Absolutely, friend. God is a God of love and graciousness. He knows the intents of our hearts ... and knows the truths of His Word have been firmly embedded in them over time. He invites us into a deeper relationship with Him, but He never uses a guilt trip or a check list. His arms are open. I join you in gratitude for His loving heart.

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  4. Getting into our golden years makes that truth more valuable. We can look back at such a long walk with Him that never shoved us off Calvary road for messing up. His love trumps all.

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  5. Fabulous penned. Happy new year 🎉

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