It was the third grade. A moment in time that is forever stamped in my memory. I stared blankly at the most humiliating piece of paper that an aspiring lover of books could ever receive.
In big bold letters I read – READING LEVEL 12.
A Reactive Faith
In my times of floundering, occasionally, I would read daily devotionals because they were quick and simple. I’d find hope—but it wouldn’t last long before I would feel the same way again. Held back.
The Most Important Book You’ll Ever Need
I said need…not read.
For so many years I operated on the belief that I should make time to read my bible, but what I never realized is that I NEEDED the bible. Every. Day.
He offers renewal unlike anything you’ve experienced. Living renewal—lasting renewal—found only in is Word.
Just Take a Step to Make Time to Read
Can you actually set aside time to read the Bible and actually understand what you’re reading?
That’s not what you wanted to read, but during those two years the more and more that I was in God’s Word daily–I was better. I was stronger with each step.
I understood that the Psalms were a gift to me—words when I didn’t have them myself.
Finding the Light Reading in The Psalms and Proverbs
Some of the best advice I was ever given, by my dear friend who shared with me a plan to read through the Psalms and Proverbs in an entire month.
It seemed like a hard plan, but I needed to be pushed. Slowly, as I pressed forward and tried her methods, I started to see a light—a consistency in gaining insight and knowledge.
The Psalms were starting to be written on my heart.
I understood that the Psalms were a gift to me—words when I didn’t have them myself.
Today I know that I can always turn to the Psalms and find my psalm—that one psalm that God speaks to my heart for me at just the right time and just the right circumstances.
Worship and Story
Transcript — Keith Green, Oh Lord You’re Beautiful
“On Monday night this week, about midnight, I wrote a letter to the Lord. I didn’t know where to mail it so I put it in my bible. And I asked him, Lord you gotta do something about my heart, you know a lot of time’s gone by since I met you, and its startin’ to harden up, you know its just kind of natural. I want to have baby’s skin, Lord. I want to have skin like a baby on my heart. It’s starting to get old and wrinkled and calloused. It’s not ‘cause of anything I’m doing, it’s because of a lot of things I’m not doing—and I stayed up until about two in the morning writing this song.” —Keith Green
Closer to the Heart of God and His Heart
Why does it touch my heart so much?
I often feel the same way—I relate to His story.
Scripture is the same way—it’s God’s gift of words, song, and story to speak to our hearts. The Psalms draw us closer to the heart of God and His heart for us.
The Psalms renew my heart and remind me that He hears my prayers and knows my situation.
A Treasure Worth the Time to Read
My faith has grown and many of the psalms I can easily recall from memory word for word.
I created a habit that has stuck.
I still read devotionals from time to time, and there is a time for this, but it’s His Word that has made me stronger. It has strengthened my resolve—helped me to sort out my mind and put me on a path of being proactive in my faith, not reactive.
Even today after I read through the psalms, I may not always know “the how” in a situation, but I know that God is with me and He is for me. The Psalms renew my heart and remind me that He hears my prayers and knows my situation.
Start with reading the Psalms and Proverbs. Get your copy of 10 Different Ways to Read Your Bible Every Day to get you started!