In Need of Nutrition

I apologize that it has been so long since my last blog. Things have been fairly busy for me, but that is an excuse. I actually miss sitting down to reflect on the my faith. Reading scripture and writing your reflections can be a fun and formative experience and for that reason it is a spiritual discipline I need to better develop.

I was asked the other day why I had not updated my blog in a while and, as I said, I felt like I have been too busy. I started reading Matthew the other morning and I came to the story when the Devil temps Jesus. The Devil temps Jesus encouraging him to turn stones into bread. Jesus responds, "It is written, 'One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" I paused over this verse for a moment and it became very clear to me what is going on in my life.

The last few weeks have been busy, but they have been really fun, as well. The only problem is that I have not protected my quiet time. I have allowed my newly busy schedule to justify my failure to spend time reading Scripture on a regular basis. The majority of my Bible reading is sermon preparation. Sadly, I have not maintained a discipline of reading and praying on a regular basis.

Jesus reminds us that the words of God are nutrients for our soul; they strengthen us and they grow us. I realize writing a blog would be difficult without having spent time reading Scripture, reflecting on it, and praying. So, my goal is to be more disciplined in keeping a regular quiet time and my prayer is that the nutrients of God's word will grow me. After all, we are blessed that God is actively participating in our life and desires to be in a relationship with us. Why wouldn't we want to be filled by the nutrients of his very words?