When we read our Bibles, do we just read it or do we dig into it, looking for those tidbits of knowledge that at first glance, seem not to be something to hold onto, but are truths that can take us forward in our walk with the Lord? Today’s Bible Journaling verse says, “Open my eyes, that I may behold Wonderful things from Your law.” (Psalm 119:18 NASB1995) Is that the cry of our hearts? Do we yearn to see the little things in God’s Word that could turn out to be something important?
As we continue in our series on finding our “Plus One,” some of us aren’t keenly aware of those little extras that God places in our pathways. Maybe we’re too busy to look for them, or maybe life is difficult and it’s hard to see anything positive. But God loves us, and He wants to bless us. God has those “Plus One” Scriptures especially picked out for us. These are meant to show us how much He loves us and help us to grow in faith, and we in turn give Him glory.
As we read the Bible, we need to open our eyes to Scripture, digging deep into each verse, learning all we can, finding the truth God wants to show us. When I first became a Christian, I didn’t know much about how to read my Bible. I was reading it more like a good book, much like I would read a book for pleasure. But the more I matured in my faith and sat under good pastors and Sunday School teachers, I learned how to look at God’s Word differently. I learned that God has placed in His Word, verses for me to grab hold of and make my own. I learned about how much He loved me. “Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.” (Isaiah 43:4 KJV) I learned that God had a plan for my life. “For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV) I learned that God was my comforter during the darkest time in my life when I lost my first husband to strokes, epilepsy, and heart disease. “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” (Psalm 147:3 NASB 1995) I learned that I have a Heavenly Father who willingly gives us grace and mercy when we need help. “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16 KJV) Since being married to my second husband, I am now learning how to go into God’s Word with the aid of commentaries to help me understand Scriptures that are difficult for me to understand. These are all “Plus One” blessings that God has given me. Each of these has helped me grow in my walk with the Lord.
When we have open eyes to understand God’s Word, that means that our understanding is Spiritually discerned. “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Corinthians 2:14 KJV) Our eyes are opened to who God is and what His plan and will is for us. The Scriptures become alive in our hearts since God is our teacher.
As Paul wrote to Timothy, we are to, “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman who needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV21) What I see is the idea that much like doing schoolwork, where we study hard to learn what the teacher has taught, we are also to study God’s Word to learn what He is teaching us through His Word. As we read our Bibles we should pray as David prayed in Psalm 119:18, that God would “Open my eyes” so that we can find the wonderful truths He has written in His Word for us to find.
donnasmusings 