I know it’s supposed to be a relationship
a Divine Romance
culminating in a great wedding feast.
So sometimes the words
“spiritual discipline”
seem the antithesis
to romance.
On January 1, 2010
I bought a new One Year Bible
and decided to try again.
I’ve read the Bible through many times
but never made it within the one year goal…
I’d get behind, and never catch up.
This year I did it
Finishing on December 31st, 2010.
Sometimes it wasn’t very romantic…
more like performing my wifely duty…
checking it off my to-do list.
I kept my journal close at hand
recording the verses that broke through to mind and heart
and became personal.
But all too often,
it seemed rushed,
not relaxing,
not romance,
rather disappointing.
December came and all around were celebrations for the birth of the babe
focusing in Matthew and Luke
but I was reading the book that begins with the words
“This is the Revelation of Jesus Christ”.
Instead of getting caught up in who is the beast
and what does this or that mean
I looked for Him
the One Whom my soul loves.
I wanted,
I needed,
my own personal Revelation of Jesus Christ.
And I saw Him…
full of fiery passion,
the Alpha the Omega,
the Beginning and the End,
the One Who Was, Who Is, Who Is To Come,
The One spoken of
that the kingdoms of this world
will become the kingdoms of
our God
and of His Christ
and He shall reign forever and ever,
The Mighty Warrior Who will in that great day
make wrong things right
and deal with the enemy
once and for all.
At year’s end
a year of “spiritual discipline”
that some days seemed dry, dusty, duty
I fell in love with Him
all over again.
Still following,
Elizabeth
Amen! Awesome words of revelation! What a way to end the year.
ReplyDelete~Adrienne~
i am doing that this year elizabeth, and this is really eye opening and encouraging. thank you!
ReplyDeleteReally beautiful and meaningful, dear friend. I love your writing.
ReplyDeleteoh, look how He romanced you in the midst of spiritual discipline :) Lover of your soul!
ReplyDeleteI found your blog not too long ago and I love it. Your words, your perspective...it's wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI wish I could feel this passionate when I read the Bible anymore. Too often I just feel confused when I try now. Too many things seem uncertain. I still love God's word, but it's been a rocky road trying to come to terms with it these last few years.
ReplyDeleteI love how He reveals Himself to us when we are seeking . He's always there. We just need to seek Him.
ReplyDeleteOh Elizabeth! This one is so wonderful that I don't even have good words for response.
ReplyDeleteI loved it, and for the record, as you wound to a close, my heart did a thumpy thing.
Wow. I don't want to add to your beautiful words of Love.
ReplyDeleteand that is a beautiful thing...
ReplyDeleteGosh. I've never read through the entire thing in one year. More like bits and chunks and pieces... Hm...you've got me thinking...
ReplyDeleteoh, how i LOVE the last stanza especially, elizabeth! it made me want to stand up and dance. this, the whole goal of reading his word, no? bless you friend.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad I checked back in with you today. You post today really touched my heart. I was thinking that I wanted to read the Bible through but just have not started for fear that I would fall behind and not finish. Your post has given me inspiration to just do it and look for Jesus in new ways.
ReplyDeleteKeep reading and posting...you are a blessing.
~a
At year’s end a year of “spiritual discipline” that some days seemed dry, dusty, duty, I fell in love with Him all over again.
ReplyDeletei love this... such a needed reminder... that He still speaks and works, even in the seasons when this trying to deepen this relationship feels like duty... thank you for writing!