During this unusual time of the coronavirus of 2020, there have been many things said to encourage, uplift and strengthen fellow Christians. I remember many posting the familiar verse from II Chronicles 7:14.
"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."
As I was walking my dog one morning, I was pondering this verse. I mean, there is a lot of responsibility for Christians in this one verse. Humbling ourselves, praying, seeking God and turning from our sin. Do we really mean to do these four things or are we simply wanting God to hear our prayer, forgive us and heal our land? Which boy - "heal our land" - that really means something right now, doesn't it?
God kind of stuck it to me as I walked and prayed and honestly, it was the seeking His face that stuck out to me.
It was on that walk that I felt, for me, seeking His face meant taking the time to read His Word through that month of April.
That long, never-ending quarantine month. LOL! He wouldn't let it go - I needed to "seek His face" by reading through the whole Bible in one month.
That long, never-ending quarantine month. LOL! He wouldn't let it go - I needed to "seek His face" by reading through the whole Bible in one month.
So I did. I read through the Bible in 30 days - the month of April.
This was my second time to personally do this.
You can read about the first in this post:
The same year I read through it again - that time in three months. You can read about that time in this post:
I thought I would share what I felt this time.
1. There is nothing more satisfying to your mind, soul and spirit than reading the words of God.
I feel it truly filled the hole.
The hole from struggling human relationships.
Struggling human relationships from stress, too much or too little time together, lack of connection, sin, hurt, negativity, and so much more. God truly filled the empty hole!
2. The Bible never, ever gets old.
There are always old truths that you will see in a new light simply because of the season of life you are in...or what has been going on in your life that relates to that passage more than ever...and even new truths to you that you had just never "seen". Many passages stuck out just because of the pandemic that would have never stuck out to me before!
It really is true that the Bible is living and breathing!
3. I actually read all my Bible reading each day in the morning before I started my normal day's activities.
There are always old truths that you will see in a new light simply because of the season of life you are in...or what has been going on in your life that relates to that passage more than ever...and even new truths to you that you had just never "seen". Many passages stuck out just because of the pandemic that would have never stuck out to me before!
It really is true that the Bible is living and breathing!
3. I actually read all my Bible reading each day in the morning before I started my normal day's activities.
The last time I read it through, I was working full time and home schooling and all the other normal responsibilities. This time because of the quarantine, I had a more relaxed schedule.
I'm an early morning person and I need quiet, uninterrupted time to truly get what I desire from my Bible reading. The morning is the best in our house for this and for me personally.
I would estimate it took an average of 1 hour and 15-30 minutes a day - give or take some days. Some days, I highlighted a lot and read a little slower because so much was sticking out to me.
So, I can say I have done it in both seasons of life.
One that was slower and relaxed...and one that was very busy and what you would probably say - "a normal American adult life".
And it is doable in both seasons.
Don't wait to do something like this until you "have more time" in your life. You will always find an excuse of why you can't. I encourage you to just do it. :)
You won't regret it. I can promise that.
I'm an early morning person and I need quiet, uninterrupted time to truly get what I desire from my Bible reading. The morning is the best in our house for this and for me personally.
I would estimate it took an average of 1 hour and 15-30 minutes a day - give or take some days. Some days, I highlighted a lot and read a little slower because so much was sticking out to me.
So, I can say I have done it in both seasons of life.
One that was slower and relaxed...and one that was very busy and what you would probably say - "a normal American adult life".
And it is doable in both seasons.
Don't wait to do something like this until you "have more time" in your life. You will always find an excuse of why you can't. I encourage you to just do it. :)
You won't regret it. I can promise that.
