When do you find time for the word..?

[faceofbear]

Hi,

I am currently going to school and I'm finding it difficult to find time for the word. In the morning I am too tired and by the time I finish my homework I am to tired and just want to sleep. I read through out the day a couple chapters but I really want to spend an hour or so with the Lord per day. The days I am done with homework early I have a headache from so much reading that I don't want to read, but I do and I rarely get anything out of it cause my brain is just fried. Any suggestions?

 

[wayseer]

Give it a rest - you are trying too hard.

Five minutes well spent will be of more benefit. You have much to accomplish in your youth - take time for yourself. Jesus said love your neighbour AS yourself. In other words, take care of yourself - you are no use to anyone, including yourself, if you are a physical and emotional wreck.

 

[Mister_Al]

Get the Bible on tape/CD and listen to it on the way to and from school. Otherwise, just read the Bible when you can. If you don't read it for a few days, or so, it doesn't mean that you're any less a Christian. God is able to teach you His word whenever you hear/read it and He is always there and ready to teach it to you.

Blessings,

Alan

 

[98cwitr]

30 minutes before bed...good for the soul when its the last thing you read.

 

[Big Country]

Jesus said love your neighbour AS yourself. In other words, take care of yourself

The command to love your neighbor as yourself is not a command to love yourself. 2 Tim 3:2-5 lumps people who love themselves with several other forms of evil men all of which we should avoid.

Regarding the original post:
In contrast to the some of the advice already given, I think you're doing the right thing by plowing ahead with your Bible study despite your exhaustion and frustration. It's a good indication of your devotion. I would encourage you to continue what you're doing, although I think you might benefit from a little more structure in your study rather than just reading chapter after chapter. I recommend getting involved with a mid-week Bible study group and spending your daily time in the Word preparing for that. I think you'll find that focusing your time on specific passages or topics will ultimately be more fruitful. Likewise, having the regular opportunity to discuss what you're learning with others will help you sharpen your sword and have a greater energy toward your study.

Be enouraged, you're doing a good thing:
1 Tim 4:13 & 15 - Paul encourages Timothy to be "absorbed" with the teaching of scripture, among other things.

Psalms 1:2 - It's a blessed man that meditates on God's word day and night.

Psalm 119 - 176 verses, one verse after another describing a man who desperately desires to know and understand God's Word because He understands the benefits of knowing it and the consequences of ignoring it.

 

[childofGod31]

Hi,

I am currently going to school and I'm finding it difficult to find time for the word. In the morning I am too tired and by the time I finish my homework I am to tired and just want to sleep. I read through out the day a couple chapters but I really want to spend an hour or so with the Lord per day. The days I am done with homework early I have a headache from so much reading that I don't want to read, but I do and I rarely get anything out of it cause my brain is just fried. Any suggestions?

I beg you, PLEASE don't listen to the advice that was posted above. Putting Bible reading on the back burner and doing it "whenever you can make time for it" is a HUGE mistake! God won't understand that kind of a behavior. What God will understand is that you are putting things of this world BEFORE Him. And what does Jesus say about that? Deny yourself. Live your life only for God. If you gain this life, you will lose the eternal life. Do not work for food that spoils but for food that lasts for eternal life. Seek you FIRST the kingdom of heaven. Do not worry about tommorow. Take Jesus' advice. He knew what He was talking about. James said that faith without deeds is dead and useless. This is the kind of faith that "dead" Christians have, those who don't read the Word. Because if you don't read the Word, how do you get deeds? Deeds are the characteristics of a mature Christian, the fruit of the Spirit in you. (not "good deeds" are implied here)

The WORD is the BREAD that you need to eat. It can SAVE you, James said.

JAM 1:21-22 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

The Word can save you. Becasue it is through the word that you feed your soul. It is through the Word that you know the Father's will. Jesus said that not those who tell me Lord Lord will be saved, but those who do the will of my Father. (Mat 7:21)
If you don't read the Word, how do you know the will of the Father? Sunday Christians don't know the will of the Father becasue they put the Bible on the back burner. They run after the things of the world. They DON"T obey God who said: seek ye the kingdom FIRST.

So the question is: do you want to go to hell with a degree?

Or do you want to get to heaven without one?

I would recommend reading the word of God (for at least an hour) when your brain is MOST fresh and MOST receptive. Read it FIRST, BEFORE doing your homework. Give THE BEST part of you to your God, not the leftovers. And leave all the schoolwork for AFTER the Word. (And if you don't do so well in school because of this, it's not that important, because what's more important: getting a degree or salvation?) If your school is God's will for you, then He will help you to complete it. If it's not God's will, then you need to get out. So the verse says: seek ye the kingdom first, and the rest will be added on to you. So seeking God before all things will bless your life and God will help you to get through other things. He will send you whatever you need. And like I said: if schooling is His will for you, He will help you (AFTER you give him the best of yourself FIRST). But if school is not His will, then you should not be in it in the first place.

I cannot stress enough how serious this is. I mean there is NOTHING more important in this life, NOTHING, then spending time with God. This is why we were born. This is the whole game - to find God, to draw close to Him, to learn about Him so that we could fall in love with Him and to find eternal life. The rest of the things - is just on the side. And so often we put them first. We get our priorities confused.

I would become a C student in school, and an A student in the Bible.

I really hope you will MAKE time.

And maybe this will help too (how to make the Bible reading more interesting):

http://bible101.freeforums.org/the-bible-becomes-a-living-book-t151.html

 

[Mister_Al]

Saying that a person HAS to read the Bible a certain amount every day is a legalistic point of view towards being disciplined in the study of Gods word. Remember, the Apostles didn't have any Bibles to read every day, nor did they have any Bibles to preach from and they couldn't very well tell the new Christians to read their Bible every day.

I've discovered that there is no need in trying to hurry and learn God's word because He won't reveal it to you until He's ready. I haven't really "studied" the Bible in a couple of years, but God continues to teach it to me on a regular basis.

Also, if you're a Christian, there is no need to try and "find" God. If you're born again then you have already found Him. When Jesus said to "seek ye first the Kingdom of God" he was talking to people that weren't yet saved. After you're saved you're in the Kingdom of God and there is no need to keep searching for it. But, I do agree that it is important to spend time with Him if you want to have an intimate relationship with Him.

By the way, God won't send you to hell for not reading the Bible.

Be Blessed,

Alan

 

[salida]

Take out 5-10 minutes and starting reading. First, cut out some time elsewhere like watching t.v. or whatever you can spend less time on. Or get up 5-10 minutes earlier.

 

[Aino]

I'd try to do some Bible reading on the way to school and back if you can, but if not, then take some time before homework a couple of nights a week at least, and some more in the weekends. Make sure you have a plan for the times you use for Bible study and for homework, so that there's some sturcture to both. I think you'll be amazed, how much the order of things matters: homework sure won't make you feel any better, but learning to know God will. I hope this helps you and you won't be too confused about all these different kinds of answers..

 

[Bridgit]

Read the Word whenever possible and read it daily. It is very important.

If you want to know the truth, read the Bible:

Acts 17:11 - And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth.

If you need hope and encouragement, read the Word:

Romans 15:4 - Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.

If you want wisdom, read the Bible:

2 Timothy 3:15 - You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus.

If you want to learn what is right, read the Word:

2 Timothy 3:16 - All Scripture is inspired by God and is usuful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.

The Word of God is powerful:

Hebrews 4:12 - For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

The Scriptures are the Word of God. If you want to know God, read His Word:

Revelation 19:13 - He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God.

If you need guidance, read the Bible:

Psalm 119:105 - Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.

The Word saves:

James 1:21 - So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.

We are to meditate on the Word of God day and night:

Joshua 1:8 - Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.

 

[freeport]

Hi,

I am currently going to school and I'm finding it difficult to find time for the word. In the morning I am too tired and by the time I finish my homework I am to tired and just want to sleep. I read through out the day a couple chapters but I really want to spend an hour or so with the Lord per day. The days I am done with homework early I have a headache from so much reading that I don't want to read, but I do and I rarely get anything out of it cause my brain is just fried. Any suggestions?

You are making faith into a chore. It is not. Once you have read the word once, the Holy Spirit should bring to mind Scripture from then on out.

You should seek the hidden manna...


Contemplate and seek God in your heart all the time.


Be wary of studying Scripture to try and find God -- but your heart should always seek God.

 

[christandisrael]

One verse may be enough. If you could make two that will be great....

 

[Jeffz]

Some questions? How important is the word of God to me? Where is my passion? What do I spend most of my free time doing? Reading and studing God's word is not 'legalistic'
This has nothing to do with salvation, it has to do with knowing God, if I am saved it goes that I would want to know what God has said in His word. I do not have any set length to study, but some times I find that the time passes when I am consumed with the Word and with His love. It is not about rules, it is about having a personal love affair with the God of Creation, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. If I am in love with someone I want to spend time with them, not that I have to spend time with them I am compelled to find out all I can about them, talking on the phone, going out and having conversations with them. Asking them questions about who and what they are. In otherwords being interested in what they want and finding ways to facilitate that through action. Faith is action, so step out in faith and make time to get to Know God and His Son who HE sent, that is Eternal Life.
one man set free,
jeffrey

 

[praisehimalleluia]

I find some days I am too tired. So I listen to the Audio Bible. At times, I just get myself the Life Application Study Bible. So read just a chapter. It provides some commentaries you can apply to your life.

Normally do not go more than a chapter if you think ur too tired that your mind is not able to absorb what you learn from God's Word. Pray before you read the Bible for guidance.

 

[Quasicentennial]

At Biblegateway.com, you can type words in the searchbox that would find verses containing the word or words. For example when I type in searchbox: rest
Genesis 2:2
By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work
Genesis 8:4
and on the seventeenth day of the seventh month the ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat.
Judging by these verses, Sunday is a day of rest and some pleasure time with the bible.

 

[Mister_Al]

Some questions? How important is the word of God to me? Where is my passion? What do I spend most of my free time doing? Reading and studing God's word is not 'legalistic'
This has nothing to do with salvation, it has to do with knowing God, if I am saved it goes that I would want to know what God has said in His word. I do not have any set length to study, but some times I find that the time passes when I am consumed with the Word and with His love. It is not about rules, it is about having a personal love affair with the God of Creation, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. If I am in love with someone I want to spend time with them, not that I have to spend time with them I am compelled to find out all I can about them, talking on the phone, going out and having conversations with them. Asking them questions about who and what they are. In otherwords being interested in what they want and finding ways to facilitate that through action. Faith is action, so step out in faith and make time to get to Know God and His Son who HE sent, that is Eternal Life.
one man set free,
jeffrey

I agree that reading and studying the Word of God isn't legalistic in itself. But, when people start saying that you MUST read and study it EVERY DAY (or else), then it becomes legalistic. A person should read the Bible when he/she wants to, without feeling that they are sinning if they don't. Reading/Studying the Bible should be a desire in your heart that you want to follow, and not a ritual you feel that you MUST perform daily to be a Christian.

Blessings,

Alan

 

[janny108]

I start out with Daily Bread, and then maybe read some of some books I have depending on what I want to read more about. This week it's about witnessing book and one about the 12 gifts of service.

 

[GaryP]

I agree with FreePort, I thought Jesus was the Word and the Word points to the Father.

You should forget about words of Creation and Go to the Father. I would rather spend

my time with the Father then read creation's instructions on how to spend time with

the Father. Enter into the Temple and be with the Father, Follow Jesus.

Try this " Our Father ", Now that is quality time.

 

[faceofbear]

Let me clarify, I am not doing this to be legalistic. I'm doing this because I want to know the Lord more which comes by studying the scripture. I know that reading the Bible does not save. Jesus says Himself to the Pharisees that they are searching the scriptures because they think that in them they have eternal life but they do not!

I am wondering because I have a longing for my Savior as a "newborn hungers for the milk of his mother". I am just struggling finding time because of being busy constantly. I understand the word is more important than going to school, but I am going to school to get a biblical studies degree and move on to missions work, my whole purpose of going to school is to serve the Lord, unfortunately there are a number of secular classes I must take first.

The problem is that the church is starting to want to see degrees which prove service to the Lord and same with missions fields.

I've began reading before I start my homework and a little at night, I am taking a class at my church so I've been following this guide. Thanks for the help.

 

[Mister_Al]

What do you mean when you say your Church wants to see degrees which prove service to the Lord? I ask because it's not the responsibility of the Church to categorize (judge) you according to your service to the Lord. The job of the Ministry in the Church is to teach you how to do the works of the ministry so you can effectively teach the gospel of Jesus to others.

Alan