Sweet Kick In The Pants

Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked. . . . But they delight in the law of the LORD, meditating on it day and night.

Psalm 1:1-2

Could I give us all a sweet kick in the pants today?

I am trying to figure out how to say this without sounding bossy or legalistic. Okay, here goes: I think all of us believers in Christ need to prioritize our schedules so we spend time with God in His Word.

Listening to God’s voice can be as regular as breathing. And if we check our phone messages, texts, e-mails, and hair every day, we can certainly check in with God Almighty in His Word for our marching orders and get our pink ducks in a row for the day ahead. We can put God and His Word at the top of our list, whether the time we carve out with Him is in the early morning, while we’re having lunch, or just before bed at night. But if we do not plan our days wisely with the mind of Christ that God gave each of us, then our days will plan us.

I’ve been surprised at how God has delighted me with Himself in the nitty-gritty work of the day when I’ve committed to spend time with Him. He makes even the challenge of putting together this devotional book a joy because reading His Word is a delight! Thinking about what He says is pleasing, and talking to Him about it, which is called prayer, is too. His messages are so much more effective than mine. Nothing compares with Him.

You and I cannot settle for piggybacking off our favorite Bible teacher’s or pastor’s experiences with God. We need to have our own! We need wisdom and courage and strength of our own. We just don’t have it in us—apart from Christ. We need to adopt the daily, life-changing habit of literally sitting still with open hearts, following a simple plan to read His Word, and in prayer offering to God ourselves and our days—which are really His days! We need to hear His voice above all others. I don’t know any other way to say it.

Let’s join forces and give each other a sweet kick in the pants to read His Word every day! Choose a daily study plan, such as reading the One Year Bible (or use the Bible you already have, following one of the schedules at www.oneyearbibleonline.com/readingplan.asp). Let’s make the Lord’s pink army stronger.