Steeping Yourself in God’s Word
By Jessica Brodie
I’m a coffee drinker, but on occasion I enjoy a good cup of hot green tea. I add in some delicious local honey and bask in the knowledge that the antioxidants are making me healthier with each fragrant sip.
Sometimes I’m in a hurry and make the mistake of soaking the tea bag just a few minutes. The result is a mug of honey-flavored water—the “good stuff” is missing. I need to steep the bag the full amount of time to get the tea I crave.
When we’re anxious, worried, troubled, or stressed, we often make the mistake of going through the motions when it comes to our faith practices. We might pray, but it’s a shortened version. We might read the Bible, but perhaps only a chapter without taking the time to meditate on what we’ve read or go deeper into the message. Our negative thoughts swirl.
But in times of hardship or worry, I’ve learned one of the best things I can do is spend some good, solid time in God’s word—steep in it like I’m a teabag and His truth is a nice cup of Earl Gray or Green Pomegranate.
That doesn’t only mean reading the Bible. It can also be reading a devotional, going to worship, listening to Christian music, or spending time with a positive Christian friend.
Staying rooted in God’s Word is so important in our faith journey, especially when we are wavering because of stress or worry. After all, the theme “do not fear” is echoed more than 350 times in the Bible.
Psalm 119:105 reminds us, “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path,” as does Joshua 1:8, urging, “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”
Romans 15:4 says, “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.”
Hebrews 4:12 reminds us, “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”
And Paul tells young Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Consider it your daily armor, part of getting dressed for the day. It helps, often when nothing else does.
Today’s topic, steeping yourself in God’s word, is one of 10 included in the free eBook I created to help people shrug off their worries and center themselves in the Lord. Called A God-Centered Life: 10 Faith-Based Practices When You’re Feeling Anxious, Grumpy, or Stressed, the book is FREE for anyone who signs up for my weekly blog. Learn more and get your copy here.
(If you are already a blog subscriber but haven’t gotten your copy, just email me and I’ll send it to you.)
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