If you are participating in the Bible in 90 Days challenge, today you are on Day 67 and should have read through the end of page 805 in the Bible in 90 Days Bible or through Zechariah 10:12.
I hope you are doing well in your reading of the Bible in 90 Days. Having completed this challenge several times myself, I know what commitment it takes… and I also know the incredible reward of completing it.
If you are struggling, please know that I want to help you in any way I possibly can. Please share your concerns so that either I, or another reader, can help to encourage you or offer you solid advice.
As we are in the homestretch, it is increasingly important that I hear from Bible in Days participants in one way or another.
I need to clean up my list of participants, know who especially needs fervent prayer and begin to prepare the gifts I intend to share with each of you who completes the challenge. And I cannot do any of that unless I hear from you.
Please leave a comment or a link if you’re reading with us so I’ll know about you. And if you are a blogger, please ask those who are reading your blog if they might be participating and encourage them to check in here, as well. I want to be sure to give credit to all who are reading and completing the reading with us.
This week Teri Lynne Underwood of Pleasing to You is sharing what she has learned and how she has been transformed by reading the Bible in 90 Days with us…
When Amy first asked me about writing a post for the Bible in 90 Days blog, I said, “Sure.” And then thought, “What on earth will I write about?” But, as always, God was faithful to show me what to share and I do hope you will be encouraged by the lessons I have learned. Amy, thank you, for letting me share just a little of my experience through this process.
I decided to do the Bible in 90 Days challenge right after Christmas. My husband and I used the Gospel of Luke as our reading leading up to Christmas, one chapter a day. I was amazed at how reading through the account of Christ’s life in preparation for celebrating His birth affected me. So, I knew that reading the entire Bible as I prepared for Easter would be a powerful experience. And, thus far, it has been just that.
Today, I am going to share four lessons I’ve learned through this process.
- I’m more disciplined than I realized. For the past six years or so, I’ve been getting up between an hour and two hours before the rest of my family in order to spend time in Bible study and prayer. I always say that my rule is, “I don’t speak to anyone until I’ve listened to the Lord.” I hadn’t realized the impact this has in my life until doing this challenge. So many others have been struggling to find the time to do the reading and that hasn’t been an issue for me. I already was devoting the necessary time to the Lord. {Now, lest you think I have it “together,” keep reading …}
- I can’t do it all! I had the first three months of the year all planned out. I was going to do the Bible in 90 Days challenge, teach through the book of Esther on my blog, teach a Bible study on James at a local church, study the Jewish feasts and prepare a series on that, write a devotion book with my husband to help raise funds for his mission trip this summer, and complete my book manuscript and proposal to take to She Speaks in July. Guess what? I haven’t done all of that!! I have had to let some writing tasks go, change some self-imposed deadlines, and postpone study on other projects until after I finish this challenge. And you know what? THAT IS OKAY! Another “mantra” of sorts in my life is “I will give up the good to live in the best.” I knew that God had led me to this challenge and that His purpose for me at this time is to finish it. Other things, even other good things, had to be set aside for this period.
- I don’t like poetry! Getting through Psalms was arduous for me. I was much happier in Leviticus. Learning style and personal preference affect our time in the Word. We like to stick to what we are comfortable with … that’s why so many people never read the Minor Prophets, I imagine. But even though I felt like David was a way bigger whiner than Jeremiah in Lamentations, I read it all. Because ALL of Scripture is useful … and the truth is, so much of life we do feel like we are attacked. It’s good to know “heroes” in the Bible felt the same way.
- I love the WHOLE of Scripture. For several years I have prayed for a passion for the Word of God … an insatiable longing for more time in and understanding of the Bible. And God has faithfully answered that prayer. But, my natural inclination is to spend days (even weeks!) on the study of one verse. Doing this challenge has shown me that I love ALL of Scripture. And I’ve seen how some of my favorite verses fit into the “big picture” which has opened my eyes to God at work in ways I never imagined.
Doing this challenge has been transformative in my life … but that’s God’s promise: “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Romans 12:2a, emphasis added, NIV)
How is this process of engaging in God’s Word transforming you?
Please leave a comment or a link to your own post below to let us know where you are in the reading and also tell us how the experience has transformed you, if you would like to share.
Then, please pick two or three other commenters and pray for them by name.
Powered by MckLinky
Click here to enter your link and view the entire list of entered links…
And, of course, don’t forget to join us for our Tweet-Up tonight from 8-9 CST. Just follow me and use the #B90Days hashtag.
Leave a Reply