Friend, have you ever read a passage of scriptures and nothing jumped out at you, but the second (or third, or fourth?) time you read those same scriptures, a light bulb goes off or something touches your soul? It’s in those times you hear God speak directly to your soul. Sometimes when reading scripture, that’s when God says no to your plans. Or gives you a resounding yes. Or He gives you something else entirely.
That’s been happening to me quite frequently. I love when a light shines a little brighter or a little differently on a set of scriptures and the meaning becomes a little more clear when applied to a particular trial or situation.
I’ve gotten into the habit of reading Bible plans from the YouVersion Bible app on my phone while I dry my hair in the mornings before work. I wish I was kidding when I say that I spend a good twenty minutes with a hair dryer aimed at my head in the mornings. You ladies with curly-bushy-long hair might know the struggle. It is all too real.
Daily Scripture Reading
A couple of years ago as I was taming my hair, I was looking for silly articles to pass the time. Twenty minutes is a long time to just sit there, you know. I’d surf Yahoo for things to read and after a while, I sort of became convicted over it. Here I was wasting time on silly articles when I could have put that time to good use and be reading my Bible. Am I saying that reading silly articles is wrong? Absolutely not. I still read Yahoo articles fairly regularly. Just that now, instead of spending most of my twenty minute hair prep time on Yahoo, I spend it reading YouVersion Bible plans. I’ve found some really great plans that way.
You know the thing I was talking about earlier, about seeing a set of scriptures a little differently?
Yeah, that very thing happened yesterday morning.
When God says no
I had just finished a plan I had been reading for a week and started in on a new plan called When God Says No. I chose this particular plan for a couple reasons:
- It seems like one particular situation of mine keeps getting met with a great many no’s.
- Sometimes reading how someone else deals with a “no” can be a great encouragement.
If you’ve never read a YouVersion plan, they generally consist of a devotional followed by a set of scriptures. Yesterday morning’s scriptures were Romans 5:3-5.
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulations worketh patience, and patience, experience; and experience; hope: and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. Romans 5:3-5
Let those scriptures sink in a minute while I take a short walk down memory lane. Back several years ago in Sunday School class, I remember my Sunday School teacher teaching on this particular set of scriptures. I can remember thinking, Hmm… those scriptures will be mighty important one day.
Well, friends, today is that day.
As I said earlier, one particular situation has been met with “no” too many times to count. I guess now would also be a good time to mention that long ago I prayed for a good dose of patience. Patience, well, it was not my strong suit.
Paul, though, knew exactly what he was talking about when he wrote tribulation worketh patience. It is in those tribulations that we must trust God has everything under control and trust that he is working everything for our good. Sometimes, friend, trusting in the Lord means we have to wait a while. And yes, waiting requires patience.
But, there is hope
But Paul also said, patience brings experience. Experience allows us to recognize that we need to hand over every situation to God and let Him work it out according to His will. When we have exercised patience in past trials, with experience we are better equipped to handle the next trial. Experience also allows us to encourage others going through a similar situation. You know, shine a light.
Through it all, we have hope. Hope that God will continue to work and move in situations. We have hope in Jesus Christ. Hope in life everlasting. Hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. And that, friends, is a hope we can share.
What scriptures have made an impact on your heart lately? Tell me below in the comments!
I love this! I love how you found a chunk of time in your day that would normally be wasted and redeemed it. I was reading Hebrews 11 this week and realized the bloggers I am reading are like a great cloud of witnesses!
Kathy, I’m starting to realize you are right about the great cloud of witnesses! When you think about it, the Internet is probably one of the largest “mission fields”, albeit a cyber one.
Thanks for this Cassie! I so love those light bulb moments too. I even love them when I find familiar scripture in other places – such as a magazine article, or even fiction! They are shown in a different light to me, one that is necessary in the moment. Romans 5:3-5 is a favorite.
Thanks for your comment, April! Romans 5:3-5 is a favorite of mine, too! One that never ceases to be relevant!