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Psalm 1:1-2 – Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. (KJV)
When I was much younger in the faith, studying the Bible was a huge challenge for me. I would pick up my Bible, try to read through a chapter and memorize a verse, yet nothing would sink into my head or penetrate my spirit. Before long, I would fall asleep on my reading table. I must confess that it baffled me tremendously why I couldn't just grasp these words of the Bible the way that I did with science and social science subjects. Glory to God, years later, the Lord gave me the answer to that spiritual struggle through this verse:
Luke 8:12 – Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. (KJV)
Friend, whatever steals the Word of God from us remains our greatest enemy, and whenever we hear the Word of God or pick it up to study, the devil is furious. He comes with different distractions that will make us lose grip of the Word.
The reason that he does so is succinctly expressed in the verse following our opening Scripture:
Psalm 1:3 – And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. (KJV)
Who?
The one who meditates on God's Word day and night.
As believers, we can be blessed in our walk with God only if we constantly study and meditate on His Word. It's not optional — it's a must. The Word must dwell in us richly and work into our very being — that's exactly how we profit in Him.
Paul is fully armed with this secret of success when he tells Timothy, "Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all." (1 Timothy 4:15 KJV)
Beloved, God has given us something that is of inestimable benefit and value: His Word. If we could spend time with it day and night, we wouldn't be in some of the messes in which we find ourselves.
From today, begin to set out time for God's Word in your daily schedule. Refuse to let the devil stop you from profiting in God by wasting your Bible study time with frivolities.
Cast away every obstruction against your Bible study; give your phone a break for the Bible; speak the Word; and sleep and wake up with it every day. Remain blessed, and pray with me:
Prayer: O Lord, help me to study Your Word today. As I begin to study, help me to profit mightily, and may my profiting begin to appear to all. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
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Good advice, Owen.
Thank you, Owen. So true, especially now.
Thank you for sharing your experience and insightful devotion. Very encouraging.
Dear Owen,
I always enjoy your thoughtful, practical Devotionals. Looking forward to more!
Thank you, Owen for reminding us of these good words in scripture today and how to practice an active faith, growing and learning.
Good morning Owen,
I am sure many readers have been helped by your devotional today. Thank you.
(Ontario Canada)
Thank you for your email Devotional. I needed these reminders from God’s Holy Bible.
Amen Brother.
(Manitoba, Canada)
Thank you, Owen, for your beautiful devotional I’m a firm believer in God and his wonderful works but I have a lot of difficulty with Bible reading and study. I found your message very encouraging. Thank you.
May God richly bless you and your family.
Greetings Owen,
Thank you for your writing today. It is so important that we keep the devil away by delving into the Bible with deep intensity and absorbing the word of God. Our life has so much more meaning and peace as we follow the Lord’s instructions daily.
Blessings to you,
(B.C.)
Thank you, sir, for this excellent reminder that I needed to hear! I have been reading my Bible for 70 years. Lately, I have been “making do” with Christian sites on FB and much prayer. However, I have been neglecting His precious Word and need to study it every day. It is abundant food for our spirits and as necessary as oxygen for breathing and food for life!
Blessings to you for an excellent devotional!
(Canada)
Thank you for your devotional and challenge to be in God’s Word every day. A few years ago I joined Bible Study Fellowship and I took a challenge to read five Psalms and one Proverb every day starting the first of the month. It just does something for a special focus, and I encourage everyone to read Psalm 119 and make it a prayer at least once a month. Thank you for your reference to Psalm 1 and reminding us how it is that we can come to neglect daily reading of God’s Word. I also read the Daily Lectionary Readings which give me a balance of Psalms, Old Testament, Epistle and Gospel readings every day. Thank you again for encouraging us to read God’s Word and thank you for your prayer.
It is so good to hear from you in Africa. I praise the Lord for you!!
Thank you so much for the devotional you wrote about the necessity of being in God’s Word EVERY DAY! This message was confirmation about what the Holy Spirit spoke to me just yesterday!
You were absolutely correct with everything you said, including the vital scriptural references. Thank you again, so much.
Thank you for your devotional. It was most helpful, and I intended to share it with others. Too many are reading just words that become wasted seed. Keep up the good work of sharing your writing skills. It is good to read something from Nigeria.
(New Brunswick, Canada)
Thank you so much for the devotional you wrote about the necessity of being in God’s Word EVERY DAY! This message was confirmation about what the Holy Spirit spoke to me just yesterday!
You were absolutely correct with everything you said, including the vital scriptural references. Thank you again, so much.