Welcome to Day 20. I have my bible open with my laptop at Barns & Nobles here on 71st. With the smell of coffee in the air and surrounded by books. This is the place I have made sacred ground to abide with Him as I read and write to each of you. Find your place and welcome Him with me as we spend the next 10-15 minutes in prayer and study. Here are some helpful tips to best utilize your time.
- Choose an ordinary place to become a sacred-ordinary holy ground. This could be your favorite chair, the back porch steps, or a coffee shop.
- Set aside anything that could distract you for the next 10-15 minutes. If you are using your phone or laptop for these devotionals put it on due not disturb. If you are using a printout, set aside your phone or smartwatch. This time is intentionally meant to be with The King.
- I suggest picking up a journal so that you can jot down some ideas that stick out to you from your time with Jesus. As you continue to meditate on it throughout your day, write it down.
- Pick a consistent time. For you, it may be the final moments in your day, early in the morning before anyone wakes up, or your daily office lunch break. When doesn’t matter as much as being consistent.
I pray that during this time of meditation, reflection, and prayer God will reveal himself to us so we can draw near to him. Shall we begin?
August 23 John 5:39-47
- Let’s Begin with Prayer. Pick a posture whether kneeling, sitting, or sitting up straight with the palms of your hands facing upward.
- In this season of prayer, take a psalms from the Bible and recite it as your prayer. Here are a list of some that I have done if you need direction.To begin your day with God: Psalm 5, 19, 20, 23, 25
- Read John 5:39-47 Write some of your thoughts down. Here are some questions to consider to help navigate your time studying scripture.
- Where did I feel resistance? Where did I feel delight? What portion of scripture did I experience God’s nearness?
Some Thoughts I Like To Share,
I found myself reading scripture one morning. As I finished the portion that was allotted for my morning devotional, I didn’t find any substance in it. It was as if I read an assigned reading for a class and could answer what I read but my heart was not moved by anything. I say this not to suggest that everything we read in scripture is supposed to move us emotionally. I want to suggest that I was reading scripture for the sake of reading scripture. The scripture I read had no other significance than the fact that I could tell myself and others that I read scripture for the day. This is okay for the scripture’s purpose is meant to usher us into His presence.
Jesus was speaking to a group of individuals who knew the Bible backward and forwards. Most likely they could recall it from memory. Despite their expansive knowledge of the Bible, why couldn’t they see what others were seeing? Why were their hearts blinded to Jesus being The One who was promised back in Genesis 3:15? I remember I used to believe that the more I came to understand scripture, the more “spiritual” I became. But the Bible can only point me to the One who can change my life and make me new. Therefore, scripture proclaims that Jesus is the endgame.
The teaching of Moses by themself can do nothing but condemn them. They are good and they reveal right from wrong. But that is all they can do.
It is only Jesus who can then move passed the acknowledgement of that and say, “No longer do I condemn you, go and sin no more.” He can give that command because He has the power to sustain you and keep you on the right path. Therefore let scripture do the job it was intended to do. Point you Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. Abide a little longer in His presence. He misses you.
- Let’s Begin with Prayer. Pick a posture whether kneeling, sitting, or sitting up straight with the palms of your hands facing upward.