Priorities that Make a Difference – Part 3

Last week, I mentioned the four elements of a priority time. The first element is called Focused Thinking. As I thought about the most common reasons why people feel like they struggle to hear from God, two of the three reasons live here within Focused Thinking. You might assume that the problem is because most people don’t have enough theological training or understand enough Biblical history. I would disagree.[bctt tweet="God doesn't only speak to seminary graduates."]Please don’t believe the lie that the Lord only speaks to seminary graduates. Scripture consistently repeats the themes that it takes the faith of a child; God gives grace to the humble; He is for the least of these, not just the educated. On top of that, we learn that it was the Scribes and Pharisees – the most educated – who caused Jesus the most frustration. They let their pedigree go to their heads. Anyone can hear from the Lord through His Word. God wants us to hear from Him. So, why don’t we?

1. We treat the Bible like everything else we have to read.

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.(Hebrews 4:12)

There isn’t a book, blog, newspaper, textbook, history book, or devotional that can make the same claim. We must not read it casually. We must read it with expectancy and intentionality. This is God’s love letter to His children, left to guide every generation. If the Word can discern the thoughts and intentions of our heart, we must approach it with an openness and sensitivity unlike any other reading we do.

[bctt tweet="The Bible: God’s love letter to His children."]

2. We move too fast.

Even those who are disciplined to be in God’s Word daily often struggle to slow down. We put a goal in front of us to read a chapter a day or maybe read through the Bible in a year. Both are fantastic ways to understand the big picture and scope of Scripture. But if completing a portion of Scripture is your goal, you’ll likely miss the greater goal of being sanctified. God doesn’t give prizes to the first one done. His goal is for us to become more like Him. If God has something to say to you in verse 2, you may miss what He has to say if you’re more concerned with your agenda to get to the end of the chapter.

Join me next week and I’ll break down what Focused Thinking looks like. In the meantime, slow down and treasure each word God has left you.