Do you have good study habits? Do you know where you get them from? Sometimes learning from other people requires spending time with them and watching how they act and react. I’ve learned a lot from watching my parents do different things. I’ve been in their classroom a long time. I discovered learning and developing good bible study habits requires spending time in the Bible. I’m learning more to watch how I act and react as I spend time in God’s word. Watch and learn, now that’s what I call Living on Pitch.
Tag: Reading
Minutes vs. Hours
Have you ever said or thought there’s just not enough hours in the day? I’ll admit I thought that many times. I’m learning to work through these things called minutes though. Managing the minutes of my day is no easy task. Early this year my church challenged me to read the Bible for 15 minutes a day. They meant everyday too. I love my church and the annual focal points each year. We are reading through the New Testament together this year. Well, I accepted the challenge and in my mind I thought immediately ok, I can do that. Sounds easy enough. I started to read, marked the time off my calendar and set a reminder. That was earlier this year, it’s now September and the 15 minutes a day challenge has me feeling like I didn’t get the memo. I have a confession to make. I haven’t consistently used my 15 minutes a day to read through the Bible. I don’t always complete the challenges I accept. I’m a work in progress and I really want to do better. The time is still marked on my calendar. I still read the Bible, but not for 15 minutes a day with intention. The reality I face and most of us face is being intentional about using our time. Mentally blocking out the time to meditate on God’s word is one of the hardest, but most rewarding and fulfilling things we could ever do. I saw a TV commercial speaking of how 15 minutes could save a person 15% on their insurance. Most of us have heard talk of someone getting their 15 minutes of fame. What’s so special about 15 minutes with God? I don’t know for sure but I believe forming a habit of daily bible intake is more than likely better than saving on insurance, or becoming famous for a short time period. This is not the same thing as tracking progress in an app everyday, drinking 8 glasses of water, or or waiting over 10 minutes for a table at your favorite restaurant. It’s about showing up, even it it’s just for 1 minute. I keep telling myself if you can listen to audiobooks for hours, chat on the phone with your friends for hours and watch your favorite tv shows for hours of entertainment then surely you can take a minute or two, maybe even 15 minutes to listen to God, chat with Him and watch Him work things out in your life. I hope to continue forming the habit of reading the Bible with intention and anticipation. How do you intentionally use your time?
Lesson from A Bookshelf
I have a confession to make. I am addicted to books. I realized it when my bookshelf took a turn for the worse. Too many books found their way on the shelves and the weight caused it to wobble and lean. Eventually it’s going to collapse. I haven’t replaced it yet so it’s still leaning. I took some books off the shelves and laid them down gently instead of standing them up tall. It helps but it’s not good enough to stop it from leaning. The back particle board has come apart from the frame so there’s no support from behind. It looks like a bookshelf but it’s not acting like one. It has become defective. I know it’s still a bookshelf but the books aren’t being supported the right way. It reminds me of my life ‘s bookmarks. Sometime things get wobbly on the job or at home, I start to lean and sometimes I really feel like I could collapse. The weight of dealing with everyday life, work, finances and family gets heavy. Sometimes I look like I’m living on pitch and doing ok but I’m not. I’m just living and leaning, wobbling and shifting. One thing I’ve learned, when I’m feeling as if I’m about to collapse is God is my support. My bookshelf taught me that one day. I realized God has my back covered and he won’t let me fall off the shelf. I can gently stack my burdens, problems and fears and lay them down before God. I am renewed and refreshed by reading my Bible, taking time out for prayer and meditation so that I can stand up again.
Psalm 31: 1 (ESV) In you, O Lord do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me!
Psalm 119:116-117 (ESV) Uphold me according to your promise that I may live, and let me not be put to shame in my hope! Hold me up, that I may be safe and have regard for your statutes continually.