The Bible After Five Days...

Today is Day 6 of The Bible in 90 Days reading challenge.  Never heard of it?  Neither had I until I started following Amy at MomsToolbox on Twitter.  The Bible in 90 Days is exactly what it says – reading the Bible from cover to cover in 90 days, 12 pages a day!  The reading is done using the NIV, and a special version of the Bible can be purchased (which I have) where each days reading is marked out.  A great resource for when doing the reading challenge again in the future! 

I’m thoroughly enjoying the challenge and have gleaned a lot from what I have read so far.  The premise of the challenge is to just read, not study.  If God shares something while reading, or there are questions that arise, the reader is to write it down for study at a later date.  I’ve found it interesting how even though I’m not studying as such I am learning and remembering many new things!

The first amazing word from God was Genesis 15:1b -

“After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision:  “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.””

This is a timely reminder for me; I often become fearful of what the world offers.  God reminded me through this verse that He is always with me to protect me from the world, and that after my time on earth is over, Heaven is my great reward.  The world will pale in comparison to Heaven!

The next amazing word was from Genesis 22:14 –

“So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.””

Where do I need to be for the Lord to provide?  Yes, up on the mountain of the Lord.  Not dwelling down here on earth – spiritually speaking – but by staying with the Lord.  My physical self is down here on earth, but I need to keep my spiritual self up high with Him.

The next gem was from Genesis 31:50b –

“...even though no one is with us, remember that God is a witness between you and me.”

Over the last two years, and even including this very hour, I have been dealing with a situation whereby God has been the witness between another person and myself.  This has been a constant source of comfort to me, and brought me peace when I first realised and felt it.  I know that things occur that I don’t and may never understand, but God does.  I know that I am misunderstood, and I misunderstand others, but God doesn’t misunderstand.  Ultimately when we stand before Jesus in Heaven, all that we’ve done towards another - either to their face or behind their backs - will be revealed and dealt with accordingly.  I’m not without sin, and all of mine will be revealed, but until then I will be remembering this verse and taking comfort from it.  God has my back and will avenge where He sees fit. 

The last gem that He revealed was from Exodus 6:7 –

“I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians.”

God took the Israelites as His own people.  They then became slaves to the Egyptians and God rescued them.  He also takes us as His own people; we as frail humans who are born as slaves to sin.  He rescues us and removes the yoke of slavery from us.  He gives us the honour of being able to live free from the world’s bondage. 

Four verses and four timely and comforting Words from God.  I am so blessed to be on this journey with Him, even if there are days when I just want to give up!  Like today, for instance, when my fibro flare became almost unbearable, I developed a migraine headache, and almost had an anxiety attack.  I remembered during this that life could be worse.  At least I wasn’t bundled up and sold into slavery by my brothers like Joseph was.  That is what God wants us to do; remember that life isn’t all that bad – if at all – when He is at the helm and we give Him control.