reallife.MINISTRIES

In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus. // phil. 4.6-7 (WEB)

school is in full swing. morning temperatures have dropped, football games friday nights, homework deadlines to remember, SYATP rally (tonight), Youth Convention around the corner, and tests to study for. for an active student these and more are part of your weekly schedule. it can be easy to begin to get anxious about everything!

let the verses above be a reminder that "the peace of God . . . will guard your hearts and thoughts in Christ Jesus."  isn't that amazing.  through "prayer" we can release our worries, fears, anxieties, and stress to the God of the Universe.  obviously this sounds 'easier said than done'.  but let me assure you that the longer you practice this the quicker you realize the peace that God provides.

it truly is pretty amazing and as the Word says, "surpasses all understanding."

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ok, to continue last week's discussion . . . first of all, thank you to all who responded.

now, i promised you my take on bible reading and devotional time.  the question was "what is the right amount of bible reading a day??  a chapter? 5 chapters? 5 minutes? 120 minutes?"  in short the answer is "yes!"

you see, we have to first look at "what's the point of devotions in the first place?"  if you are doing your devotions because your pastor or youth pastor or somebody else said "YOU SHOULD DO DEVOTIONS EVERYDAY."  then that's when you begin to ask questions like "what's the right amount?"  your motivation is off.  your devotional life shouldn't be a "to do" item in a checklist.

no, instead your motivation should be, "i'm in love with Jesus and i want to know him more and more everyday."  if that's the case then you don't read a certain amount of time or a certain length of passage.  you read to know Jesus more.

so sometimes you'll feel like reading a whole small epistle in one sitting in order to get a better understanding of the letter as a whole.  sometimes you'll start reading and God's Word and two sentences into it a phrase in one verse will just capture your heart.  other times you'll read a passage and nothing will jump out at you so you'll read the same chapter again!  why?? because you want to know Jesus more.

honestly, there are times that i read a lot, other times a few verses, and (truthfully) sometimes i read until i fall asleep because i've waited till the end of the evening to remember to get into the Word.

so remember romans 8.1

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.  (WEB)

don't let anyone condemn you (not even you) for not "reading the right amount during your devotions" - God doesn't condemn you.

Question:  should you read everyday??  Answer:  do you want to know Jesus everday?

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