LEARNING DAILY

Psalm 119;130-135, The teaching of Your Word gives light, so even the simple can understand. I pant with expectation, longing for Your Commands. Come and show me Your Mercy, as You do for all who love Your Name. Guide my steps by Your Word, so I will not be overcome by evil. Ransom me from the oppression of evil people; then I can obey Your Commandments. Look upon me with love; teach me Your Decrees. (NLT)

I love God’s word! I have been reading/studying/meditating on it for almost fifty years. It does not get old. It is not boring. It speaks something fresh every day! Why write this? The answer is quite simple. The devotion I read today from Pastor Ed Newton was what I have been trying to encourage readers of this blog to do – read/study/meditate on the Word of God each day. He gave his permission to use what he wrote in today’s blog. I am going to reproduce what He wrote because it cannot be improved.

“People return to it [the Bible] year after year and still find something new speaking into their lives. That can feel surprising, especially if you assume familiarity should lead to boredom. Scripture works differently because it meets you where you are, not where you used to be.

“Each session of life brings different questions. What you needed to hear years ago is not always what you need today. God knows that. When you return to His Word, He highlights the truth that fits your current moment. A verse you skimmed in the past in the past suddenly feels personal. A passage you once ignored speaks directly to a decision you are facing. The words did not change, but you did. God uses the same truth to bring fresh guidance.

This is why Scripture never feels finished. You grow, struggle, heal, and mature, and the Word of God continues to meet you along the way. In seasons of joy, it grounds you. In seasons of confusion, it steadies you. In seasons of pain, it comforts you. God is not repeating Himself out of habit. He is speaking with precision, applying eternal truth to present circumstances.

Some people stop opening the Bible because they think they already know it. Others approach it only when they feel desperate. Both miss the invitation God is offering. Scripture is not just for emergencies or beginners. It is an ongoing relationship. God uses His Word to shape your thinking, refine your desires, and guide your steps one day at a time. Returning often is not a lack of growth. It is a sign of it.

If the Bible has started to feel distant or familiar in a dull way, consider returning with new expectations. Ask God to show you what you need. Read slowly. Trust that He knows how to speak into this season of your life. The Bible is a book that you finish because God is not finished shaping you. Each return is an opportunity to hear His voice again, fresh and timely for where you are today.”

I pray that you are as encouraged as I was when I read this. It is encouragement to me to continue reading/studying/meditating on the Word of God each day. Every believer needs to do this daily!

Thank you, Pastor Newton, for allowing me to pass this on to those who read this blog.