Struggling to Read the Bible Consistently Experience fresh spiritual growth and passion for Gods Word. (1 Kings 13). Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. After class, the moderator for the class suggested that, for the following week, the teacher make room for questions; he suggested the teacher cut down on the reading of so many Bible verses as this would save time and, it was strongly implied, would better hold people's interest. But this is more about swallowing than yawning (and you cant do both at once). Mark Galli is senior managing editor of Christianity Today and author of A Great and Terrible Love: A Spiritual Journey into the Attributes of God (Baker). Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. For my final column, I would like to share my favorite Bible verse: The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost (1 Timothy 1:15 ESV). Are you trying to spend time with God right in the middle of your busy day (when your mind is going a million miles per hour) or last thing at night (when youre tired and likely to fall asleep)? These cookies do not store any personal information. His son is killed. And yawning. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. While hard work is the normal means God uses to bestow wealth, we should never think that we are the cause of our own success or that God owes it to us as our due. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2, Be alert and of sober mind. When I did this at one church, a staff member whom I'd asked for feedback between services told me to cut down on the Scripture quotations. You may need to create a budget and live within it. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. It treats temporal things as if they, and we, will endure on earth forever. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. The Bible shares with us a lot of what God said and did in ancient times, how collective people and individuals in the past responded to His spoken word. If Im in the woods and an angry bear is charging at me, a loaded gun is a good thing to have! Elsewhere (1 Cor. No longer are listeners asked to listen humbly to the proclamation of God's Word, in all its mystery and glory. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves. Infact i also yawned another 3 or 4 times while writing this. 8:18), You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day. That covenant was Gods promise to bless Israel so that they could bless others (Gen. 12:1-3). ), Reading the Bible for Beginners - A Women After God's Own Heart. PLOS ONE just completed a thorough study about contagious yawning . Its the story of a happy, but poor, pearl diver who dreams of finding the perfect pearl. Would I give more to His cause? Plus, its a good excuse to buy a cute little prayer and Bible study notebook if you dont have a good one lying around already. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free., Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. Today I want to answer four questions: (1) What is greed? The One who can answer our deepest questions but could remain The Question, the One who can restore our broken humanity, but could remain a vague Hypothesisthis One has revealed himself in Law, Prophets, and Gospelin the words of a collection we now call Holy Scripture. The result? Publication date: Mar 19, 2023. H Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Greed also treats eternal things as if they arent real and never will happen. If I rejoice when I win a raffle or door prize, but I yawn when I hear about a soul being saved, Ive lost the eternal perspective, which is a sign of greed. We should be inching toward the edge of our seats, leaning forward, turning our best ear toward the speaker, Home | Blog|Podcast | Free Resources | Books | Courses | Membership | Privacy Policy|Contact. It seems ever since I have started to become more into Christianity when I pray or read the bible, I will Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.. But most people who are in debt have a problem with overspending. (1 Timothy 4:16). Your prayer list and list of distractions arent the only things it can be helpful to write down either. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Verse Concepts. But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the people, There are six days in which work ought to be done. I understood the reality he was addressing, and so I scratched out the biblical references for the next sermon. So, what I want to do is persuade our new believing friend that it is absolutely essential, after coming to faith in Christ, to be radically, deeply, experientially devoted unshakably, unwaveringly persuaded that reading and meditating on and understanding and memorizing and enjoying the Scriptures is absolutely essential for the Christian life, which would include being in the word every day with the aim that we will meet God there and, little by little, the glory of his truth will fill and transform our lives. How do young Christians stop being leaves blown around by cultural and theological winds and opinions? Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Yawning is a common sign of tiredness, though people yawn for other reasons. Some yawns are spontaneous. mainly Roman Empire or the Byzantine Empire. Im overwhelmed at how much I dont know about the Bible. Radically separate yourself from it! /r/Christians is also a Protestant-based forum upholding the Five Solas of the Reformation, including salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. If were careful to be good stewards of Gods gift of wealth, using it to promote His purposes, its good. For example: A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty The Bible Helps Us To: 1. And certain seasons of life are going to be more difficult to focus in than others thats not a bad thing, thats just life. OpenBible.info I think it more persuasive to show that what I'm saying is not merely my opinion but a consistent theme of Scripture. Whether its external distractions (like the phone ringing, the kids making messes, or the dog barking to go outside) or internal distractions (like your mind wandering),distractions during prayer and Bible study can be a seriously pesky obstacle for many Christians spiritual growth. 6:1). We are free to enjoy without guilt the wealth God bestows, but were also stewards of it for Him. This is our only hope for defeating a supernatural enemy. D Your email address will not be shared publicly. The Cross And Our Response to Trials (1 Peter 4:12-19), 8. 6:10), the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil. Another word, used to translate the tenth commandment, You shall not covet (Rom. 14 Reasons to Read the Bible | Cru All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. That's not listening. When I preach, I often quote the Bible to drive home my point. What Does the Bible Say About Distractions? We place an emphasis on sharing biblically sound advice and content with one another. reasons for excessive yawning you probably didn Yawning What do you do to stay on track? (2 Timothy 2:15). Get on with it! 5:5) he warns that the greedy will not inherit the kingdom of God. "You'll lose people," he said. And of course, Id also love to encourage you to check out my book, Fall in Love with Gods Word: Practical Strategies for Busy Women, if you struggle to stay focused or motivated during prayer and Bible study. The ground yawned in a particularly dramatic way for Korah, Dathan, and Abiram: And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the people who belonged to Korah and all their goods. Mark Galli is former editor in chief of Christianity Today and author, most recently, of, First Baptist Church Atlanta pastor lived by the motto Obey God and leave all the consequences to him.. This is not optional. your brain isnt feeling stimulated and starts to slow down, causing a temperature drop. Why Do We Yawn And the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale. Were on a mission to change that. Leave your Bible somewhere youll see it (for example, on the kitchen counter But a loaded gun is always dangerous, especially if its in the hands of a five-year-old. Tell her to help me! Luke 10:40 NIV, Pharaoh replied, Moses and Aaron, why are you distracting the people from their tasks? Paul uses it when he states (1 Tim. Giving is the drain plug for greed. The knowledge of God all the fullness that a created being can properly comprehend and enjoy will not be withheld from us indefinitely. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. When the native people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, No doubt this man is a murderer. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. At the end of the movie, Schindlers List, the war is over and Mr. Schindler is leaving the many Jews whom he saved by employing them in his munitions factory. Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, Not a result of works, so that no one may boast. The Bible is help, not oppression. None is righteous, no, not one (Romans 3:10). He is the treasure in the field for which you sold everything to gain Him. Webster defines it as excessive or reprehensible acquisitiveness. It defines the synonym, covetous, as, marked by inordinate desire for wealth or possessions or for anothers possessions. The problem is, those terms are subjective. Why would I want to do that? Pauls answer (Col. 3:1-4) is, Because you have died and have been raised up with Christ. But now I want to focus on greed. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Twenty years ago, Republicans, Democrats, evangelicals, gay activists, and African leaders joined forces to combat AIDS. The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake., Jesus said to him, You have said so. Our own dark thoughts of God are what cause us to shrink back from opening and (Ephesians 4:1314). Why Do We Give Up on Bible Reading? | Desiring God They make their tongue sharp as a serpent's, and under their lips is the venom of asps. Do you ever find yourself distracted during prayer and Bible study? Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Z. Click for reprint information. When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. "In Essentials Unity, In Non-Essentials Liberty, In All Things Charity." Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. WebHere are 14 worthwhile reasons you should read the Bible. May His mighty Name be glorified through you? John Piper is founder and teacher of desiringGod.org and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary. Scan this QR code to download the app now. To unlock this article for your friends, use any of the social share buttons on our site, or simply copy the link below. And lastly, if youve gone through all of the above and youre still having trouble staying focused while praying and reading your Bible, you may simply need to double check your expectations. (2) How should Christians view greed and wealth? He is a thousand times stronger than you are. I'm as irritated as the next person when it comes to the public reading of Scripture. Its actually the medium through which God speaks to us. If Im willing to shred relationships or to take advantage of another person for financial gain, Im being greedy. If you dream about winning the Publishers Clearinghouse Sweepstakes, you need to ask, Why do I want to win? Be honest: Is it really so that you can give away most of it to the Lords work around the world? The Bible doesnt make sense. Moses warned Israel before they went into Canaan (Deut. W Were against it. Doesn't this person have anything original to say? Ask yourself, Would I get as excited about taking advantage of a strategic opportunity to give to further the Lords work as I would with a great investment opportunity?. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. I think. God sanctifies his people. Learn to walk in the Spirit so that His fruit of self-control governs your impulses. No one comes to the Father except through me. So greed is not primarily concerned with amount, but rather with attitude and motives. I think only because I keep thinking about it and writing it out. Died: Charles Stanley, In Touch Preacher Who Led with Stubborn Faith, Charles Stanley Was Everyones Pastor and Mine, Steven Curtis Chapman Ranked Alongside George Strait and Madonna, Complete access to articles on ChristianityToday.com, Over 120 years of magazine archives plus full access to all of CTs online archives. Scriptures on distractions (in general) we do find dont really provide much help for actually overcoming these distractions. K He wasnt thinking about Gods kingdom or the needs of others. Rather, they are good reminders that we should aim to keep our focus where it matters, rather than getting distracted by earthly cares and worries that keep us from falling in love with Gods Word. tired. Geocoding He graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary (Th.M., 1976 in Bible exposition) and Califo More. And if youre just rambling out loud, not really expecting an answer and not willing to listen and obey what you may hear. The Christian life is a life of many afflictions. For 33 years, he served as pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Yawning when reading aloud - anyone . The poor can be just as greedy as the rich. No yawning. 3:8) are more precious to you than all the riches that this world has to offer. OR start reading my latest book, Follow God's Will, for FREE! Ah yes, even more enamored. If you say, If I just made more, Id give more, youre probably fooling yourself. Theyre buying into the advertising pitch that you need more junk to be happy. We have this extraordinary gift, this miracle book, from the Creator of Heaven and Earth, the Mystery of the Universe, the Infinite One whom we (the finite) cannot begin to fathom, the Holy One whom we (blinded by our unholiness) cannot begin to comprehend. I assure you that I am a fellow-struggler with you on these hard questions and its a constant battle! But we each have to stand before God someday. He means that those whose lives are characterized by greed are not true believers and they will go to hell. Another example of this phenomenon: Recently in an adult Sunday school class, I heard a detailed and persuasive lecture on a biblical theology of creation. E Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. M If this is the case, the yawning isn't what's distracting you; it's your response to the distraction. When you're more used to studying, you'll be better at staying focused on it. But rather than deserving heaven, we all no exceptions deserve hell. Here are nine common but wrong ways to read the Bible: The warm fuzzies approach reading the Bible for a glowing, subjective experience of God, ignited by the words of the text, whether we understand what they actually mean or not. Result: frothy reading. We want to be able to ask our questions about our concerns, otherwise we feel talked down to, or we feel the class is not relevant to our lives. We so often treat this with a yawn, as something simply to be expected of God as an owed right. Pray about major purchases before you buy them. When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand. Your life is now hidden with Christ in God. Because the unfathomable riches of Christ (Eph. The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. Spiritual life eternal life just like physical life, must be fed, not by bread, but by the word of God. However, comments that are rude,hateful, malicious, or spammy will be immediately deleted without warning. Today we talk to new believers, and its an email from an anonymous listener, a new believer himself. There is no direct mention of yawning in the Bible (Ps 5 : 9 is sometimes mentioned, but its clear that their throat is an open grave is not about yawning). Thanks! If you struggle to focus while reading your Bible because you feel like its boring or you arent getting a lot out of it,Id love to invite you to check out my brand new book: Fall in Love with Gods Word: Practical Strategies for Busy Women! (Num 16:32). Resist feelings of self-sufficiency that say, I dont need the Scripture every day. Here are my ten reasons. We dont like this. /r/Christianity is a subreddit to discuss Christianity and aspects of Christian life. A man in the crowd said to Jesus, Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me. Being fair, I would have expected Jesus to say, Bring that scoundrel here! And He would have confronted him about his greediness. He wanted more and more. They think its optional because they know so much already and they read so many other books. And behold, there was a woman who had had a disabling spirit for eighteen years. Everythings better with a friend prayer and Bible study included! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? But yeah, anybody else deal with this? Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 2:14-15). Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. What I do know is that the same thing happens to me: I often yawn when reading books aloud to our kids. Think about it this way: The Bible isnt just a bunch of lifeless words on a page. So, I have ten reasons that I believe this ten reasons to make Bible reading, Bible understanding, Bible memory essential to the Christian life. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13, Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Why Do We Yawn If it actually may be something or if it's in my head. Isn't he going to address this issue, or that concern? *This post contains affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase, I may make a small commission at no additional cost to you. And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. Whenever the Bible is read, a hush should come over us. Jesus Brought Relief. Should I set aside more for the time when I cant work, or give it to the Lords work now? Pastor John, thank you for this podcast. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. Then, Im sharing seven techniques that work great for me Maybe one of them will help you too? 13:44-46). This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. WebGet in the habit of reading your Bible at the same time each day. COPYRIGHT 2023, EQUIPPING GODLY WOMEN MINISTRIES, LLC. 6:9-10; Eph. I noticed from a young age, I started Press J to jump to the feed. So, there are ten reasons for why young believers should resolve with all their might all the might that God gives them to make reading and meditating on and The frustrations of our present limitations of understanding and enjoyment will be removed. Symptoms of Excessive Yawning. It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out. R But when were in eternity, this speck of time we call life will seem like a blip on the radar screen. For there is no truth in their mouth; their inmost self is destruction; their throat is an open grave; they flatter with their tongue. I try to laugh at myself when I catch myself in such moods: bored with the very revelation of God! How fitting it is, then, that we be ever growing now in what will be our final joy in the age to come. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us. Plus, theres even a companion workbook full of fill-in-the-blank exercises, checklists, and beautiful printablesall designed to help you focus and take action on everything youre reading and learning. As I mentioned last Sunday, if Christians saw greed as equal to idolatry and as serious as sexual immorality, how could we have tolerated for even one second the flamboyant TV preachers who flaunt their extravagant wealth and brazenly tell everyone that financial prosperity is their divine right? Then Jesus told the story of the man who had too many crops for his already-full barns. We teachers and preachers are well aware of how easily listeners get bored. If we are, we may be greedy. I have been slowly reintroducing myself to Christ and tonight I prayed to him for guidance on a personal issue. When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, Rabbi, when did you come here? Jesus answered them, Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. You Can! WebLets consider five reasons Christians should read the Bible. and the word of God abides in you, What Does the Bible Say About Yawning? - OpenBible.info Narcolepsy, a condition that makes you excessively sleepy during the day Excessive yawning may also be caused by taking medication that makes you very tired. While excessive yawning may be a symptom of an underlying condition, sometimes it can be a symptom of a serious medical problem. Please see our. Were all assigned in some measure to handle the word of God. Even though it's been a couple of years since you wrote this Brittany Ann, it will always be timeless. His formerly tranquil life is totally upset because of his attempts to cling to this pearl. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Still, these examples reveal such a feature of current church culture that we might want to question ourselves. And his disciples asked him, Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. (Psalm 1:2). God bless you and increase your grace. 7 Best Bible Study Apps for Christian Women All Free! Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Man shall not live by bread alone, ), How to Read the Bible Daily (And Make it a Habit). But its not an easy subject to understand. Im not talking about that. WebAs far as I know, yawning isn't a sign for tiredness, but for a need of oxygen. You have to find something that works with you and your real life, or youre not going to be able to stick with it. your brain is slowing down, causing its temperature to drop. Preach it, brother! And, were all quick to judge greed in others: Did you see that expensive new car so-and-so was driving? How do we define luxury in light of the worlds poor? In almost every catalog of sins where greed is mentioned, its coupled with sexual immorality. But if were deceived by our wealth (Matt. in first minute you will feel yawning , to fight this ask help from God to push the Satan from you , because The Satan fighting/push you, to don't read the Quran or pray God Q But, we are responsible to do it! So he planned to build bigger barns, while he congratulated himself that he had plenty stored up for years to come. Copyright, Steven J. Cole, 2016, All Rights Reserved. And what I mean by this is that full understanding, full enjoyment of the truth of Scripture, will be experienced only in heaven. Thats the test. It is given to buoy us along in life, not drag us down. With kingdom priorities and careful stewardship we can give far more. As he was greedily scanning the stock prices, drooling over the killing he would make on his investments, his eye glanced across the page to the obituaries where he saw his own name. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Don't spend a lot of time in the Bible, we tell our preachers, but be sure to get to personal illustrations, examples from daily life, and most importantly, an application that we can use. And if you are refusing to listen to God well, why would He keep talking? The Cross And Unjust Suffering (1 Peter 2:19-25). If your distractions are simply run-of-the-mill annoyances caused by tiredness or boredom, the four suggestions above should take care of the problem. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Colossians 3:1-2, Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. 1. As we saw last week, when Paul tells us to put to death our members on earth (the literal rendering of verse 5) with regard to sexual immorality and greed, he means, Radically separate yourself from these sins, beginning on the thought level. We are to do so in light of our new identity in Christ (Col. 3:1-4) and in the power of the Holy Spirit (Rom. But as he looks at them, he breaks down weeping and laments, I could have done more. They try to console him, but he points to his nice car and says, I could have sold it and saved a few more lives. He pulls out an expensive fountain pen and a watch and says, These could have been sold to save another life.. Some things ought to count far more than making money: Gods reputation through my testimony as a Christian; my relationship with Jesus Christ; a clear conscience; my relationship with my wife, my children, and other people. So they sit back and say, Amen! Should we trade in our old car for a newer one? But does that mean, then, that we must take a vow of poverty and get rid of all our possessions? Yawning in the Bible We should be inching toward the edge of our seats, leaning forward, turning our best ear toward the speaker, fearful we'll miss a single wordthe deeds and words and character of Almighty and Merciful God are being revealed! How can we be on guard against all greed? Thats a sign of greed! By the way, one of the biggest reasons you find yourself distracted during Bible reading may be that you dont actually enjoy reading your Bible enough. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. The native people showed us unusual kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, because it had begun to rain and was cold. We all know the right answer. Amen. And when we listen to the sermon only to hear what seems immediately and directly relevant, neither is that listening. 20 Important Reasons To Read The Bible Daily (God's Word) And he said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God..