Daily Benefits

Today is a slower day... too much yesterday and a day of rest or change is needed for the old body! It even hurst to type today! In a few days the day of rest will happen. Yet through it all God has been refreshing in wonderful ways. This morning I was doing some reading and came across this devotional... I hope you enjoy it as well.

Project Update..

• Bathroom Tiling is almost done - just need the grouting. Looks great.
• Kitchen cupboards are will be done today.
• Flooring starts today as well.

Daily Benefits
Jul 7, 2006Topic(s): Bible Study/TheoriesScripture: Psalm 119, Psalm 19:7-11

Many of us take a multivitamin each day to get the nutrients and minerals we need for a healthy body. The benefits come from daily intake, putting in what we need and restoring what we've used. We don't wait until we're sick, then pop a handful of vitamins. Sadly, we often treat God's Word that way. We take it on an emergency basis and forget that a daily dose is far better for our spiritual health than a quick bite when we're facing a crisis.

What Does God Say?
Throughout the Scripture, we see how God's Word has value for our lives. Psalm 19:7-11 describes the law or word of the Lord and its benefits: "The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul...trustworthy, making wise the simple...right, bringing joy to the heart...clear, giving insight to life...pure, lasting forever...true, each one is fair. They are more desirable than gold. ...They are sweeter than honey. ...They are a warning to those who hear them; there is great reward for those who obey them" (NLT).

Wisdom, insight, refreshment--these are things we need each day, but we'll only find them if we tap into God's Word.

What other benefits will you discover? Start with your A-B-Cs.

• A is for Anxiety. Look up these verses for help in coping with it: Psalm 94:19; Matthew 6:25-33; 1 Peter 5:6-7 and Philippians 4:6.
• B is for Blessing. God offers us both material blessings (Ezekiel 34:26, Psalm 21:3-6) and spiritual blessings (Psalm 5:12, Psalm 32:1-2, Psalm 29:11; see also Ephesians 1:3-14 where verse 3 describes the source and verses 4-14 list them).
• C is for Comfort and Compassion: Isaiah 57:18, Isaiah 66:13, Psalm 23:4, John 14:26-27, 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 and Lamentations 3:22-23.

That's just a quick start--use a concordance or on-line Bible word search to find more verses.

My Thoughts
As you read these verses, did you see something new? Something you need?

• Do you look to God for these things on a regular basis? Or do you just call Him in an emergency?
• If we're in the Word on a daily basis and familiar with all that God offers, then we'll be prepared in a crisis. We'll be familiar with God's promises and character; we won't flounder about looking for help. But it will take commitment to His Word and making it part of our lives.

My Part
Take a look at your calendar, and plan to make a focused effort on finding daily benefit in God's Word. Set a goal, work with a plan and stick to a time or "appointment" if that will help. Here's an idea to try:
Goal: 22 days (long enough to get a good habit established).
Plan: Psalm 119 is divided into 22 sections (NIV, ESV and NLT Bibles split them according to the Hebrew alphabet). Read one section a day, and review it with questions like:

• What do I know about God or His Word from these verses?
• What does God and His Word do for me (the daily benefit)?
• What is or should be my response?

Jot a few notes, keep track of what you discover and ask God to make these benefits part of your words, actions, attitudes and thoughts.