Enjoying the Journey
Posts Tagged ‘meditation’
Stop (Just) Reading the Bible!
Yes, that’s what I said. Stop it. Stop reading the Bible. It is not that the Bible should not be read, rather, it is that too often we substitute Bible reading for the greater work. Reading Scripture passages is just the entry point! Our communication with God must be much more than that. American Christianity has too often portrayed that following a system of Bible reading is the essence of walking with God. This easily creates “a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof” (2 Timothy 3:5). Merely reading the Bible will not take you beyond a surface understanding, and it will not allow the truth to get beneath the surface of your life. We must go more deeply…
Read MoreWhat Will Change In Your Life When This Is Over?
Did you know that the word “quarantine” actually comes from an Italian word that has biblical roots? It means 40 days – a reference to the 40 days of purification and the 40 day testings found throughout the Scriptures. While the immediate purpose is medical and physical in nature, I believe that God is using this quarantine to both test and purify His people. This extended period will prove to be a time of purging both for churches corporately and Christians personally. Some will fall away, but, God willing, many will draw nearer to Christ. What will this quarantine do for you? “Redeeming the time” is not a matter of busyness or activity – it is a matter of emphasis…
Read MoreOur Next Bible Study Series
It is a joy to study God’s Word and a privilege to share it with others. More and more people are joining our daily Enjoying The Journey episodes and we are grateful for the Lord’s blessing. Nothing brings joy like meditating on the very words of the living God! “I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil” (Psalm 119:162). We have just completed a brief study of the book of Hosea. I am continually amazed how a message given to another people thousands of years ago speaks to our spiritual need today! You may listen to these and all of our archived studies at http://podcast.scottpauley.org. On Monday we begin a new series that I am praying will…
Read MoreThe Next Step On Our Journey
A dear man asked me the other day where we were going next in our “Enjoying the Journey” Bible study. It is a pleasure to walk through Scripture together and to know that many of you are making that journey with us! Here is a brief overview of our next steps… Today’s episode is very special for a couple of reasons. On one hand, it is a brief footnote to our 19 week study in the gospel according to Mark. In addition to that I share some exciting news about our journey to the Holy Land in 2020. We would love to have you join us as we study the Bible in the land of the Bible! Be sure to…
Read MoreMy 90 Day Adventure
Bible reading schedules have not been a great help to me. While I can appreciate the discipline they develop, for me they often became a distraction, a duty, a drudgery. Personally I have found it better through the years to take a smaller portion of Scripture each day and meditate on it. Each person has to find what works best for them. There is no clear cut pattern in Scripture for how many chapters to read each day! At different times in life you may vary your reading pattern as well. At the beginning of this year I decided that I was going to do something I had not done before and try to go through the Bible in 90…
Read MoreBirthday Meditations
Birthday celebrations are special, especially when you get to enjoy them with family. The older I get the more my celebrations turn to meditations. (They tell me that reflection is just another sign of old age!) Every milestone in life is an opportunity to both glorify God and examine your own heart. I am very grateful that God has allowed me to live to my forty-second birthday. It has been a joy this week to hear from so many special friends and rejoice in the goodness of God. And it has caused me to think about so many things. God willing, tomorrow I will preach from the oldest psalm in the Bible. Not because I feel old, but because there…
Read MoreImproving Your Devotional Life
Just today over lunch the topic of the devotional life came up. Let’s be honest. We all struggle with it. Not just consistency, but truly having a meaningful time with God. How can my quiet time become a true meeting with the Lord? In college I was given a copy of George Muller’s Soul Nourishment First. It has been a joy to share it with many people through the years, and I find myself going back to its principles again and again. I am posting it below in its entirety. It is a longer article than most but it can be read in less than five minutes. It will be time well spent. I am praying that the Holy Spirit will…
Read MoreA Story That Changed The Way I Look At The Bible
Below is one of the longest posts I have ever made and yet it will be one of the most enjoyable reads. As a college student, learning to learn, I was introduced to an old story that made a powerful impression on my life. It has helped me to study, to think, to meditate, to look. Though the setting of the story is not a Christian one, the principles found in it will help you to become a better student of Scripture. Take the time to read it and you will never read your Bible the same again… It was more than fifteen years ago that I entered the laboratory of Professor Agassiz, and told him I had enrolled my…
Read MoreA Devotional Truth for the Evening
Every close to the day is a reminder that God has not failed or forsaken us. Weariness should remind us that His strength was sufficient. Memories should remind us that His wisdom was perfect. Quiet hours should remind us that His presence was real in the busiest hours of the day. Evenings are a time to think. To pray. To give thanks. One of the Old Testament patriarchs had a divine appointment in the evening hours. It was then that the promise came to fruition and he met the wife God had chosen for him. I believe that it is no accident that the blessing came as he meditated alone… “And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at…
Read MoreA Scripture for 2018
Many of us have made definite commitments to give renewed attention to God’s Word in the new year. For me, that means something different every year. I try not to use the same reading schedule or plan. This keeps the routine from becoming a rut and helps me to approach it with fresh expectancy. I offer my plan for this year to you in the hope that some idea might encourage you in your own time in God’s Word… God led me to Psalm 119 for 2018. It is the longest psalm in the Bible. 174 of the 176 verses specifically reference the truth of God’s Word. And yet, I have discovered that this psalm seems to cover the gamut…
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