Take the One Year Bible Challenge
by Shelley Hitz
My husband and I work with teens across the country. I have this website, www.findyourtruebeauty.com, where girls like you contact me. And I am amazed at the lack of biblical literacy that now permeates our culture.
Most people don't know the bible and really don't care to.Even Christians make excuses for not reading, knowing or memorizing God's Word, the Bible. I've been like that in my life before. I make excuses like:
I just don't have the time. (Yet I have time to read other books, watch 3 hour movies and spend hours online)
I'm not good at memorizing. (Yet I can memorize the lyrics to hundreds of songs without even trying)
I've been in church all my life and have surely absorbed enough of the Bible to last me a while. (Yet, I would never think about skipping a meal even though I've had good meals my whole life.)
It's so easy to become "legalistic" about reading the bible. I don't want to become like some people I've seen that are so extreme. (Yet, it's really not about a bunch of rules for me, it's about meeting with a Person, Jesus and His Father, and getting to know Him better. It's only about rules if that's what I focus on.)
Finally, I feel that we're out of excuses. It is time to really make a deliberate choice to become more intimate with our Creator, my Savior and my Lifeline by getting to know Him better through His Word.
Unfortunately, there just aren't any shortcuts!I wish there were an easier way to get to know God, but there isn't. Just like any other relationship, it will take a sacrifice of my time.
Hearing God's VoiceThis last year has been a year for hearing God's voice more clearly in my life. It's not an audible voice, but a prompting that I get in my spirit or through my journaling.
It's been amazing and yet I've heard from several people, that it is essential that I know God's Word, the Bible. That way, if what I'm hearing from God doesn't line up with His Word, I know it's not from Him.
I want to share more to others about how to hear God's voice and yet, before I teach others how to hear God's voice, they must first have a knowledge of the Bible. Therefore, that's where I can start, by encouraging others to get to know God through His Word, the Bible.
I want to have a hunger and thirst for God, His Word and His Presence in my life. And I want to see others grow to know God in a deeper, more intimate way. I sense knowing God comes in several steps.
Knowing God...Step One: Knowing His Word
Step Two: Practicing His Presence
Step Three: Hearing His Voice
So many times I've wanted to skip right to hearing His voice. And yet God speaks to me many times through His Word.
Taking the PlungeHow about you? Want to read the bible through in one year? You can use the
one year bible plan starting today!
I'm anticipating what God will do through this time. I'm pretty sure if you take this challenge, you'll be a different person this time next year!
Let's take up our only offensive weapon against the enemy, our sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, and do some battle!!
Ephesians 6:10-18 says,
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.