Reading My Bible

I've never been the most faithful person when it comes to personal Bible study, but it's always been something I've tried to do. I'll be faithful for a week or two and then something happens (for instance my child gets an ear infection, gets me sick, then catches the flu) and well...I get off track. 

I find something else I need to do instead of reading my Bible. Sometimes it's important (like taking Rooster to the hospital for blood tests). However, more likely than not, I skip my Bible reading in favor of getting a jump start on my to-do list, or watching the newest episode of my favorite show on Hulu while the baby is still asleep. Yes, I've been known to skip reading my Bible to watch TV, and yes, I am a sinner. 

However, I've learned that these decisions to skip my daily quiet time are very foolish because when I choose to forgo my time with God, I am essentially saying, "hey God, I don't need you today."

Now understand, this is not true, not even one little bit. I need God desperately! I need his strength, his provision, and his grace. I need his direction because I've proven time and time again that when left to my own devices, I will inevitability mess everything up. Yet for some reason I still choose to put my own interests and agenda above his. I choose to spend time on the things I want rather than on the things of God. 

It's the equivalent of making a quick turn down an aisle at Wal-Mart to avoid talking to some well meaning acquaintance. It's not that I don't like them. I've just decided that I really don't have time to hear about their recent head cold or their neighbor's sore toe.  I don't want to waste time engaging in these pleasantries when I have a grocery list to get through.  Maybe another day, when I have nothing else to do and lots of time to waste being charitable, will I seek to engage this person in conversation. Until then I don't have time for their opinions, and I don't really care about what interests them. 

I just wonder how often God becomes someone we would rather avoid?  How many days do I get up and think I have more interesting things to do than sit and chat with God? How often do I find myself too busy to sit and listen to what God has to say? And when did I decide that God has nothing better to talk about than head colds and sore toes?!?! 

I guess sometimes I get so bogged down in my daily life I forget that the Bible is the life changing Truth written down by the Creator of the Universe. They are my comfort, my strength, my sunshine, and my power to resist temptation. They are the written record of the Truth that saves me, the Truth that sets me free. They are our meat, our bread, and our living water. So why don't I have more time for them? Why don't I have more time for God? 

I don't have an answer for this question, other than to say that God is always patiently and lovingly calling me to himself. Every day I learn a little more about just how dependent I am on God and just how much I need to spend time focusing my heart and mind on the things of Christ. Maybe one day, my understanding and my priorities will be perfect, but until then I am just thankful God is always there ready to speak through his Word when I'm ready to listen. 

Linked up at Modest Mondays.