I've been thinking....
Em said recently that sometimes she thinks of God all day, and doesn't do regular Bible reading, and sometimes she does Bible reading everyday, but forgets God the rest of the day.(I think a lot of us are or could be like that. I know I easily am)
Well, it got me thinking. I think so many Christians get into a pattern of reading the Bible everyday (which is by no means wrong), and they do it just because they have to, not because they WANT to. Recently, I was reading the Bible everyday, but I wasn't thinking about God very much the rest of the day, and my prayers were robotic, praying the same thing every time. I wasn't doing so people could see me and say, "What a good girl she is" because I always read the Bible in my room alone.
So I prayed to God to help me change. And He is helping me. I still try to read the Bible everyday, but it means more, and I think about what I read more.
I think that could be a danger of praying before you eat. It's a good habit, but it's easy to forget why you do it, and it's easy to forget it's not a law (if you don't do it, you're breaking God's law - not true). It's okay if you eat food before praying. I think churches can fall into that trap too. Especially Reformed Baptist churches. But I'm not really sure...
Thoughts?
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17 comments:
You have a point MJ and I agree. The thing about praying is that it is easy to get into the habit of just saying the same words over and over without really meaning them. There are a few things that the Bible teaches about prayer, we are to pray without ceasing (1 Thess. 5:17), something that I try to remember whenever I read that is, when ever you think about something or someone, is to pray for them. And also when we pray we are to do it in private (Mat 6:6). Also read Mathew 6:5-14.
Now of course, that brings up the question, are we to pray in private with door closed by ourselves every time we pray? No, I don't think that that is what Jesus is saying in Matthew. What He is saying is that we don't go around and parade our pray. Our pray is not for others to see but for our heavenly Father to hear.
OK, what about corporate prayer?
Oh no! My time has run out! I will get back to you about a couple of other things. Does that help? I think I might have gotten a little sidetracked.
lol, perhaps a little sidetracked. Hmm . . . I don't really have much to say, because we already talked about this together.
I think that's a really important point MJ, good for you for discovering it. So what would you say is the solution for robotic prayer and reading the Bible for appearence? Is it better to stop doing it or to continue doing it for the wrong reasons?
I have been thinking the same thing as Emily, because I fall prey to the same robotic Bible reading as well.
I go by a program in the back of my Bible to read the whole Bible in one year, day to day program. I find myself just reading because I have to, because I don't want to fall behind on my schedule, because it's an obligation of sorts.
I kind of came to the conclusion that I should find a different program that does not hold you day to day but, gives you the choice... maybe.
MJ! We need some wise words over here!! ;-)
That is a problem with me to. I think I see what you are getting at Lindy, but I have no idea how to pull it off. I guess it is about quality, not quantity.
Well, I was finding that if I missed a day in my Bible, I would feel all guilty. But now I think I read more to glorify God and learn about Him then just doing it as a pattern.
I don't know...
That's really good, Lucy. I agree with what you said about praying. I think it's a very easy trap to fall into...
Thoughts?
with you one hundred percent, i feel ya, and i stand along with you as guilty.
it's so easy for me to make god a hobby, an advertizing scheme as another one of the parts of my life, another checklist.
and i think, yes, it's one of the many weakness of the reformed baptists, that god can become a checklist of biblical ideas inside heads and not a real thing you find out by searching and doing.
but of course it's everywhere, no more so than in this tired mussed head.
: )
My thoughts went to lunch and, ah, didn't come back. Sorry MJ!
That's okay, Lucy. I understand. (Not to mention do it all the time)
I've SOOOO been thinking about this lately! Amen Michaela!!! Like, I've almost stopped praying for my food before I eat it, just so I remember to be truly grateful for it while I'm eating it. It's not...thank you Lord for this food, please bless my day. It's, wow God, I know of so many who aren't having breakfast of lunch or dinner (or all three) today, so thank you for the blessing of food, and how can I use my other blessings to help your children around the world? This is an amazing post - I love you girl!
I started the read the Bible in a year thing - Beth's completely right, it's all about the quality and what you're kicking back to God from what He gives to you through your spending time with Him. Some days I hardly read at all, I just talk to God like He's sitting on my bed looking at me. other days I can't get enough because He speaks to me more through His word. Some days I just turn up the music and worship. God doesn't want your "oh I read the bible in a year and now I know everything it says" attitude (not saying that it's a bad idea, just it can be distorted sometimes). He wants you to want Him.
Today my youth leader was talking about this in our leadership meeting before youth group. he is totally amazing btw. anyway, we were talking about Bible reading and spending time with God. he said: I don't care if you only read one verse a day, and I don't care if it's the same verse. His point was just spend the time seeking the Father, not head-knowledge about Him. America has more knowledge ABOUT Christianity than almost any other country in the world, if not the most, and yet we are the most lukewarm church because we have accepted knowing about God over knowing God.
Yes! How do you always say what I am trying to say?
That's perfect, Kacy. Just how I was feeling. Especially about praying before meals.
I was thinking! What's that got to do with it!
Um.....
Michaela! Darling, grace us with a new post soon!
*hugs*
It's coming, as soon as I think of something to post about...
You're letter's in the mail!
Yes! I got it today!! THANK YOU!!!
*dances*
Maybe you should post about cookie tins!
okay, cookie tins. I can do that.
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