Bible in 90 Days – Update 1.24.11

Last week, Amy, my Bible in 90 Days mentor, emailed me to check in with me. I had posted that I was behind (and still had not posted an introduction) so she emailed me to check in and not to get discouraged. While I was typing a response, I knew I would cut/paste it here as my update. It really is a ‘God thing’ that I am so excited and determined and up for the challenge!

Thank you for your encouragement. I am behind, but I am plowing on. I’m not discouraged or feeling guilty. This is a HUGE thing for me. In the past, when I have gotten behind in a Bible Study or something similar I would drop out. I would get discouraged or feel guilty because I wasn’t making it a priority. However, I have NEVER been one to read the Bible. I’ve read pieces of it, but those pieces were FEW and FAR between. And, only because I would feel guilt about not reading it, and then I would get busy and quit reading.

This challenge has me really excited. I had already decided I needed to make some life changes, and strengthening my walk with the Lord was at the top of that list. I’ve been dragging my feet on getting involved in my new church, and I thought that was where the Lord was prompting me to make changes. However, I came across this challenge on a blog, and got really excited about it! I believe this is actually where the Lord was leading me! Therefore, I don’t feel discouraged about being behind. I am encouraged every time I pick up my Ipad (where I have downloaded the Bible and the 90-day plan) and read. I’ve been getting up early to read, and reading in bed before I turn out the lights. My kids are seeing me read throughout the day when I get a snippet of time.

The one area I started to get discouraged was when I was reading other people’s SOAP posts on their blogs. I wondered if that was what I was ‘supposed’ to be doing. However, I realized that if I forced myself to study as I read I would end up quitting as I had in the past. I can’t do both this time around. So, I’ve determined to just read. And, that’s all I’m doing. Sure, I may miss something or not ‘get it’ this time around, but I will have done it when I’m done. I’ll save the studying for later. I had to realize that reading is really all God intended for me to do right now. He just wants me in his Word. He wants it to be something I look forward to doing. He wants me to make it a habit to pick up my Bible (or Ipad) to read as I would the latest novel on my nightstand.