2 Tim. 2:15 “Study to show thyself aproved unto GOD, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” KJV

Reading is very very good, but it is the meditation upon, and the studying of, God’s Word that brings us knowledge, wisdom and a deep unerstanding so that we can correctly discern God’s love letter to mankind. I appreciate your sensitivity to God’s dealing with you about letting it minister to you. Isn’t it amazing how, when you get down to studying, the words just leap right off the page and into your life?! I would like to ask you a question that hopefully you could answer in your next post. Do you pray for clarification and understanding before you read? (I’m sure you do, please do not get offended) I have found God really blessing me when I pray before I read for God to bless me with His presence and to help me commit what I read to memory. I ask Him to bless the reading of His Word, that I might hide it in my heart that I might not sin against Him. I pray for knowledge and insight. When I pray like that from a sincere heart before I read, it has made all the difference. I am sure you do also, I just wanted to put that out for other readers and to also just share a blessing that I found.

Sigrun comment was close to home with me for feel the same about witness to other at time.

Thank you for your love
Mary

I’l pray with you on the church-going, but don’t “hide your light under a bushel” until you’re able to attend regularly. Maybe in your sharing you’ll find out about a church that’ll make you excited to attend.

Thanks for sharing.

Thank you also for that verse from Romans 8:1. I often feel so guilt-ridden about a lot of things that I should do and don’t after all. And through what you are sharing, I see that I’m just a normal person with all the faults of humanity, and Christians who will admit to that. It’s also something that I really cherish about my pastor who has never pretended to be perfect like some have. He’s admitted to hating his father most of his life but also to reconciling with him and the peace it brought him. He railed against God when his second son became ill and especially against the doctor who didn’t find out in time what was wrong. It was his wife who was the one who spoke to him about what God might be doing through the illness that claimed their Bertie’s life.

Years later, they were able to help friends of mine whose son developed similar symptoms and point them to the illness that their son had, to support them, talk to them and help them in so many ways. Yes, we are still imperfect followers of Christ and will be until we reach Heaven. And it is so that none of us should boast that we are better than others. We are all on the same road and we are all “unfinished”. I’m trying to think of the verse that has been a comfort to me so often about that.

I just looked up the word “complete” in the concordance at the back of my NIV Study Bible thinking that might have been the verb used in the verse I was looking for and am amazed that out of a dozen or so references, half of them refer to making our “joy complete”.

I’ll have to ponder what you learned some more. Mostly in witnessing I try to get the people to first see me in a light that is different from where others stand. I have a lot of trouble finding the right words unless they bring up the subject. Or *a* subject where I can explain my convictions. I guess I find it especially hard to witness when they can’t even see that I go to church. I’d certainly like to, so please pray that I will get back into the routine and that my ailments may allow me to do so. Church attendance is always a good starting point though, of course, I don’t want to be like those who think that just being there is a duty that has to be done and that it will make me “holy”.

I have to meditate a little more. So more later.