Bible Reading Challenge: Weeks 7-9

I can hardly believe that another three weeks have gone by since I last posted an update.  I wish I could say it's been because I have been busy with other things!  Yes, I have been busy but that is not the reason. The truth is that these last three weeks have been a time of great spiritual oppression.  Weeks 7 & 8, I was bogged down in the book of Jeremiah, understanding very little of what I was reading.  On top of that, the Lord was uncovering things in my life that had long needed addressing. If that weren't enough, the devil sure was fighting!  I felt very much like the prophet Jeremiah in the book of Lamentations when he said "...the comforter that should relieve my soul is far from me;..." (Lam. 1:16)

I am happy to report that eventually the book of Jeremiah did end :)  I have asked my pastor husband to please bring me home a book on the minor prophets so that I can re-read them with more understanding!  Be encouraged! Even when I thought that I was getting absolutely nothing out of a passage, the Lord would reveal some little nugget of truth to me and that would keep me going.  Getting bogged down is going to happen.  Just plow on through!

There's a reason that God's Word is referred to as sharper than a two-edged sword! (Heb 4:12)  I have so often just quoted that verse without really thinking about it. However when the Lord himself begins to do some inspecting of the "thoughts and intents" of MY heart...ouch!  It isn't fun to discover what is lurking in those hidden corners of the heart, covered by dust and time...long forgotten. Facing the truth about myself ~ seeing the inner 'me' through the revelation of the Holy Spirit has certainly made me want to say along with the apostle Paul "Oh wretched man that I am"!

How blessed it is to have a Savior who cares enough about me to tell me the truth, for only then can I turn to Him in repentance and begin to make a change!

As with any godly, Christ-centered endeavor, the devil has fought.  I know for certain he doesn't like the amount of time I am spending bathing in the water of the Word.  By this point, if you have attempted with any degree of seriousness to finish this challenge, the devil has fought you as well. Perhaps you haven't recognized it as oppression from Satan.  Have you found yourself discontent and cranky? Short-tempered with a cause? Overly tired?  Wondering how you could be reading your Bible so much and seemingly it be having the opposite affect of what you were looking for?  Do not be ignorant of the devil's devices.  His goal is to side-track you from what you have purposed in your heart to do.  When you begin to feel this way, turn your eyes back to Jesus and ask Him for strength.

I will leave you this evening with this verse:

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, 

because his compassions fail not.  

They are new every morning: great is they faithfulness.

 

Lamentations 3:22-23

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