Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. [Joshua 1:8 (NLT)]
I used to think that I was quite familiar with the Bible. Of course, that was before I really read the whole thing from Genesis to Revelation! While I’d read a great deal about God, I hadn’t bothered to read everything He had to say. I knew there was more in that huge Bible than just my favorite Sunday school stories, the Psalms, and familiar portions of the Gospels and Epistles. Hungry for His Word, I started to read God’s book, cover to cover, determined not just to read but to understand. I read and prayed, prayed and read, and often wondered how what happened thousands of years ago related to me.
While reading through Scripture, I realized how little I really knew or understood in this beautiful tome. In spite of using study Bibles with copious footnotes, several different translations, and a variety of other resources, I had difficulty applying what I was reading to my life. What was God saying? How could words written thousands of years ago apply to me? How can I match my mindset to His truth? To help me understand how God’s Word touched me and pertained to my world, the Holy Spirit led me to my computer. I started writing meditations that helped me apply God’s Word to everyday life. My purpose wasn’t to become a biblical scholar by knowing the Word. My purpose was to better know the speaker of the Word and, every time I read another page of Scripture, I come to know Him better and love Him more!
Originally, I wrote only for myself—to help me clarify and understand Scripture. God, however, had other plans as He nudged me to step out in faith and share my words with a few others. “Lord, what am I doing?” I asked. “Healing and encouraging” was His answer. When I was afraid of running out of ideas, He said, “Trust me.” Eventually, at the urging of a friend, this website was born. Now, more than 2,200 messages later, God hasn’t failed to provide me with the words I need or the people who want to read them.
I’m not a theologian: just another Christian, trying to muddle through life the best I can. I certainly don’t have all or even most of the answers and I continue to have lots of questions. I’m sharing these daily devotions in the hope they will encourage you in your walk of faith and inspire you to read God’s Word.
The Bible was composed in such a way that as beginners mature, its meaning grows with them. [Augustine]
God’s peace and joy,
jsj devotions
Devotions of the Heart 