We’ve been studying the book of Philippians in Emily’s Bible study group. It’s been encouraging to use a unique approach to this book of the Bible, looking at each chapter in detail from four different perspectives.
Last night, we got on the topic of feeling inadequate which led to conversation about our time with God. You know I’ve been writing a lot about that, dear friends, and I’m not stopping now! Satan is always trying to make us feel inadequate. He can make us even feel inadequate in our time with God. We worry about whether or not we are spending enough time reading the Bible or enough time studying God’s Word. Did we pray long enough? Did we pray the right way, the wrong way, the insincere way? It’s a never-ending battle within ourselves.
I, myself, am a proponent of carving out a specific time to read the Bible at a certain time every day. However, I’m also guilty of thinking I “didn’t do enough” when I only get through four or five verses.
One of the ladies said something last night that will forever change how I think about that time. She said, “Is it my to-do list or is it my desire?”
BOOM. MIC DROP.
Are we communicating with God out of an obligation? Bible reading done? Check. Prayer complete? Check. Or are we communicating with God because He is good and Holy and sacrificed His son, Jesus, on the cross for our sins? This changes everything!
I long for my time with God to be a desire because it’s time well-spent with the Father. Four verses isn’t anything to snub my nose at when I spend my time studying and meditating on God’s Word and what He’s saying in those four verses. And it isn’t anything to snub my nose at when I spend that same quality time reading and studying two chapters when it’s time studying to know our God.
Let’s strive this week and going forward to make our time with God a desire and not just an obligation. Our lives are sweeter for it!
~Erin
Iron Porch 
Yes, boom! Thank you!
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