Growing Spiritually at Red Lights
How do you handle disappointments? Especially the life-is-unfair ones?
In the past when I suffered these kinds of setbacks, I made matters worse by returning to an eating disorder or other addictive and destructive behaviors. It became so bad that television, “Reader’s Digest,” even spending time with close friends couldn’t calm the knots in my stomach. The only time I experienced relief was when I read my Bible and meditated on God’s Word.
The beginning of Colossians 3:16 (ESV) says,
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.
I’m convinced that had it not been for the direction, strength, joy and peace God’s Word provided, I wouldn’t be sitting at my laptop today. Instead, I’d likely still be in a mental health facility – or may have committed suicide.
I have a high appreciation for the benefits of meditating on Scripture. Therefore, it’s natural for me to want to encourage you to love God’s Word, too. It’s my prayer that the Word of God will dwell in you richly.
The good news is that it’s easy to do. And it doesn’t require large chunks of time.
Simply keep a stack of index cards next to your Bible. Each day as you read, make a Scripture Meditation Card (SMC) by writing down verses that can help you live out your Christianity. You might find one about how to handle stress or be a better spouse. Or one that spotlights how much God loves you or one that reminds you of His faithfulness.
Carry your SMCs with you throughout the day so you can read and think about the verse(s) whenever you have a free moment – while waiting at the doctor’s office, in a grocery store checkout line — or at red lights.
You may actually find yourself falling in love with God’s Word – with God, Himself – as you do this.
As Philippians 1:6 becomes real, and you witness Him developing and perfecting His work in you, you’ll soon be telling others how God is working in your life. Rather than focusing on others’ faults, your desire to intercede for them will increase. Your heart will lean toward thankfulness more than complaining.
And when life seems unfair, your trust in your heavenly Father’s love for you will quiet the knots in your stomach.
What do you think?
I’d love to hear your thoughts about this post. (Others might also benefit from your comment.)
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I love this idea! I want to try this. I often pray as I wait somewhere or while I am driving. I would like to give this a try to see if it can help me remember scripture verses. It’s hard to hold things in my memory but the repetition of this will hopefully help. Thanks for sharing
You nailed it, Karen! It’s the repetition that makes it work.
Let me know how this works for you! AND how it changes you – and your relationships (including with God!).
Thank you for dropping by, Karen. Please do it again.
Oh I love this! This is so true. Meditating and memorizing scripture by writing them on index cards has helped me a great deal. I used to carry them with me when I walked and practiced trying to memorize them. This is an excellent discipline to develop. I’m trying to get back into this habit. Thanks for the reminder and encouragement.
You’re so welcome, Barbara. Thank you for letting me know that this devotion helped. And to be honest, I, too, can do better with meditating on scripture!
AND thank you, Barbara, for sharing this devotion on your FB page.
I read If today could be different blog today and it was so impactful to me. I haven’t handled life’s disappointments very well iin the past but I’m better than I use to be. Reading Sheryl’s blog touched my heart today. Instead of me falling back into the old way I handled them I’m taking them to God. Praying and reading scripture and asking the Holly Spirit to show me the truth when I get disappointed. Her blog made me think more about that and was a comfort to me.
Hi, Patrice. Welcome to the Today Can Be Different blog.
THANK you for taking the time to read my post – and leaving a comment. It always encourages me to hear how God uses my devotions.
Patrice, you’re not alone. We can all do better in the way we handle life’s disappointments. I praise God for the people who taught me the importance of memorizing and meditating on His Word. It changed me.
Thanks again, Patrice.
Please drop by again in the near future!!
Thank you Sheryl, I can certainly relate to everything in your article I have all of my favorite verses underlined and have to go to them quite often
Great to hear that you have all your favorite verses underlined.
The secret is the next part of your statement: Going to them quite often!!
Keep it up. And pray that I become even more diligent in meditating on God’s Word.
AND thank you so much for stopping by! Hope to see you at the Today Can Be Different blog often, Melanie.
This is a good word. This may not seem to be a glowing recommendation, but like God’s Word, its profundity comes
with meditation.
Hi, Gary. I totally agree: we gain more and more understanding as we ponder God’s Word throughout the day.
Thank you so much for stopping by!! (And thank you for the compliment.)
This is such a good idea!
It really works, Barbara. Let me know if you decide to try it – and how it worked for you.