Life on Snow Hill

Today’s daily verse is Philippians 4:8 – Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Every once in a while, I run across someone who simply wants to twist the Scripture to make it fit his or her lifestyle. Some try to use it to flaunt their ’super-Spirituality’ and highly educated self. Some totally ignore it so they can do the things they want and feel no conviction for it.

Some do all three.

This morning I was thinking about some of them. When I do that, I usually find myself getting angry and not fit for much for a while. Then I thought to myself, “Today is Sunday. I should be at my very best today.” Not that I should be any different today than I am any other day of the week – I certainly shouldn’t. I should live life the same every single day. I should be the same person every single day, whether it’s a Thursday, a Monday, or, yes, Sunday.

My point is, today is the Lord’s day, and I should find myself extra careful to keep my focus on the things of the Lord. Dare I say, the devil may try extra hard to get us off track on Sunday? Sure he does.

That’s when God reminded me of today’s verse – think on these things. Don’t worry about those other people. Stand for truth, for sure, but think on these things.

One small disclaimer. I couldn’t put the entire verse in my twitter status because I only get 140 characters. I’m not trying to change anything about what it says – promise!

I’ve severely neglected my blog again. I’m not going to keep much of a following that way, now am I? I’ve decided to try to do something about it. This something will serve two purposes for me.

1. My Bible reading and study habits will benefit. I’m taking other steps to improve this area of my life, as part of somewhat of a New Year’s resolution. But this will help to further that purpose in my life.
2. I’ll at least have something here daily. If it’s nothing more than a twitter update. Yes, that’s how I plan to post my daily verses, at least to begin with. If I feel compelled to expound on the verse, I’ll post about it here in my blog.

Today’s verse, that you should see over in the right column over there, is a large part of my motivation. Here’s why.

For the past few months, I’ve been realizing more and more that I don’t study like I should. I don’t read God’s Word like I should. I spoke to Becky about it a little, and told her what I’d been thinking about doing to improve this. She agreed that it would be a good thing to do. I thought about it a little more and decided that’s what I would do.

What’s that, you may ask? A way to help me improve my study habits in the Bible. A specific way to commit myself to it. I’m being purposely vague. I’m sorry, but that’s all you’re getting out of me. For now. Maybe later.

In church last Sunday Morning, the pastor read a verse as sort of a sideline thought to his main message. That was the one I needed. It not only confirmed in my heart that I was committing to do exactly what I should, but it took it even farther and revealed to me that if I am going to benefit at all, and if I’m to learn anything at all out of the study I’m committing myself to doing, it’s going to come from God.

I know, it’s a really simple thought, right? But it was a revelation to me when it hit me. Not only do I need to improve in my study life, but in my prayer life as well. I can read the Bible until I’m blue in the face, but if I don’t have God’s help in giving me the wisdom and understanding for what I’m reading, it will benefit me little.

To my Christian friends and readers, I desire your prayers. First, so that I get and keep the determination I need to keep at it. I don’t expect to take a step for God and not get resistance from, at the very least, my old nature. Second, so that it will actually benefit me. I don’t expect to study God’s Word and  get nothing from it. But I want all I can get. It’s one thing I feel like I can be selfish about. The thing is, God is big enough to do the same thing for anybody and everybody else that wants it, so I guess it isn’t really all that selfish.