"Bible Study - be more contemplative, meditate on verses, pray more through Scripture. Possibly use the Fighter Verse set that I have to memorize more Scripture."
Well, I have stuck with the Bible reading plan on biblegateway.com. I have been listening to my ipod, so even when I have been a little behind, that has helped me catch up. I have tried to be more contemplative, etc., but I still have a long way to go in that area. Using a Bible reading plan puts me at risk of just reading so that I can check off my list the reading for the day, rather than seeing my time in the Word as my number one source of nourishment and power. I have not used the Fighter Verse set at all this year, so that will definitely go on next year's list. I am convinced of the power of Scripture memorization, so I hope that one day that will show in how I plan my studying.
The real struggle I have had this year is that I have had no external accountability to push me to truly dig and wallow in the Truth. This is the first year since I have been a believer that I have not been involved in a Bible study of some kind. I chose not to participate in the women's study at our church that had stretched me the most from a studying and preparing perspective. Due to schedule conflicts with juggling children, we are not currently in a small group Bible study as a couple and even our Sunday School teaching time has been limited this year. And my friend Meg and I haven't been studying the Bible together as much either since she decided to grow all up on me and is now leading a group of girls on her own. ( I still love her anyway... :) )
All that to say: I can do better. I want to do better. I want to be challenged and even broken by the Lord and spending concentrated time in the Word is the best way I know to do that. Not because it's the right thing to do or because I think God will love me more if I read His Word. But because I need it and I need Him. Period.
Even though this hasn't been my year for studying and preparing Bible studies and meditating on Scripture, God is faithful. He has still taken the time I have spent, and He has pressed into my heart a few truths that I need to hear. (I hope to share some of those things here soon. )
2 Timothy 3:16-17
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
He can do big things with the scraps that I have - think five loaves and two fish. So while I hope and ask you to pray that I get deeper in the Word next year, ALL of the Word is valuable and I know that He can change my heart even when I fall short of my goals.
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