This morning, while I was praying over the people who attend my husband and I’s Sunday School class, my prayer expanded.

I was praying specifically that Bibles would be opened and read in their homes this week.

This was the prayer that was expanded upon, because a verse came to mind while I was praying this….

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
2 Chronicles 7:14

God says “If my people…”.
Not, “If my people that are a part of this certain church…”.
So, I prayed for God’s people everywhere.

That we would all:
humble ourselves–put ourselves low, last, so God can be raised up, and be first
pray–tapping into the power of the Holy Spirit who intercedes for us while we talk to God
seek His face–how can we know what God’s face looks like, if we don’t get to know Him better by opening our Bibles?
turn from our wicked ways–leaving behind our old selves, old habits, for new ones in Christ

And if we do this? Our land will be healed.

Waiting until we are in church on Sundays to open our Bibles is like waiting until we are in a concert venue to listen to the performer’s songs.
Both of these prevent us from being active participants.
In both of these situations, we miss out on a greater, more enhanced experience.

I once heard some great advice about spending time with God:
Instead of picking a particular time of day, pick the place.
Then, picture Jesus there waiting for you to meet Him there.

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Suddenly, in light of picturing God waiting for you, that full laundry hamper doesn’t seem so pressing anymore. For, when your Savior is awaiting you, it changes EVERYTHING.

 

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Check out what people did in Luke 4:42-43:

“When day came, Jesus left and went to a secluded place; and the crowds were searching for Him, and came to Him and tried to keep Him from going away from them. But He said to them, ‘I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, for I was sent for this purpose.'”

The people did 3 things:
1. The searched for Jesus
2. They came to Him
3. They clung to Him, holding on with all their might to keep Him from going away

They did not have Jesus’ words at their fingertips, like you and I do. In light of these verses, I realize how much I take this fact for granted. When was the last time I clung to my time with Jesus? Holding fast to Him?

What do you do when you experience a great restaurant? You tell others right? You enjoyed it so much that you want others to enjoy it too.

That’s how spending time in God’s Word is—just you, the Holy Spirit, and an open Bible. It’s such a rich time, that you want others to experience it also. This is why there are so many journals, Bible studies, etc. out there…to encourage people to seek Jesus out for themselves.

Doing so is life-changing. It’s my prayer that Bibles would be open and read in each home, each day. For when Bibles are open, people become active participants in the Lord’s work.

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Open and active. It’s an awesome way to get through this short life here on planet Earth!