1 00:00:01,040 --> 00:00:04,360 Speaker 1: Basis and welcome to Inside Out with Courtney. It's a 2 00:00:04,360 --> 00:00:07,200 Speaker 1: podcast that helps thousands of women all around the globe 3 00:00:07,280 --> 00:00:11,560 Speaker 1: just like you, growing christ character, calling, career, and community. 4 00:00:12,039 --> 00:00:14,720 Speaker 1: Join me, along with occasional guests, as we talk about 5 00:00:14,720 --> 00:00:18,560 Speaker 1: biblical truths, overcoming issues of life as Christian women while 6 00:00:18,600 --> 00:00:21,840 Speaker 1: also being encouraged, and eclipse where every good work as 7 00:00:21,920 --> 00:00:25,160 Speaker 1: we await the return of Jesus Christ. I'm your host, 8 00:00:25,239 --> 00:00:28,560 Speaker 1: Courtney Rashard, and after a quick commercial break, we'll get 9 00:00:28,600 --> 00:00:35,240 Speaker 1: ready to start growing from the inside out. Well again, 10 00:00:35,520 --> 00:00:38,159 Speaker 1: welcome to the show. I am so so glad that 11 00:00:38,240 --> 00:00:41,720 Speaker 1: you are here in tuning into this episode. So today 12 00:00:41,760 --> 00:00:44,080 Speaker 1: I'm going to be talking about what to do when 13 00:00:44,120 --> 00:00:48,640 Speaker 1: you're struggling to read the Bible. Now, honestly, I have 14 00:00:48,760 --> 00:00:51,479 Speaker 1: actually struggled to read the Bible sometimes because I do 15 00:00:51,520 --> 00:00:54,840 Speaker 1: a lot of things. I'm very very busy, and you 16 00:00:55,240 --> 00:00:58,040 Speaker 1: may have experienced this as well, and that's probably why 17 00:00:58,080 --> 00:01:00,720 Speaker 1: you're listening to this episode today. So you know what 18 00:01:00,760 --> 00:01:03,240 Speaker 1: I like to do. I always like to open up 19 00:01:03,440 --> 00:01:06,720 Speaker 1: with defining a word, and so today I'm going to 20 00:01:06,800 --> 00:01:10,440 Speaker 1: talk about struggle. Yep, the word struggle and according to 21 00:01:10,480 --> 00:01:14,280 Speaker 1: the Webster Dictionary, it means to tussle or strive. So 22 00:01:14,400 --> 00:01:18,039 Speaker 1: if you look at your walk right now and your 23 00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:21,319 Speaker 1: Bible reading time, do you feel like you're struggling right now? 24 00:01:21,520 --> 00:01:23,199 Speaker 1: How is your Bible reading time right now? 25 00:01:23,240 --> 00:01:27,360 Speaker 2: Is it steady or are you struggling? Another definition I'm 26 00:01:27,400 --> 00:01:30,000 Speaker 2: going to read is the word steady, and it means 27 00:01:30,040 --> 00:01:34,560 Speaker 2: to be fixed, unfaltering, unwavering, are constant. So when you 28 00:01:34,600 --> 00:01:37,160 Speaker 2: think about your Bible reading time, is it steady, is 29 00:01:37,200 --> 00:01:39,760 Speaker 2: it fixed? Is it unfaltering? Is it constant? 30 00:01:40,120 --> 00:01:40,320 Speaker 1: Right? 31 00:01:40,560 --> 00:01:43,800 Speaker 2: Is it consistent? And if you're struggling there, then again 32 00:01:44,200 --> 00:01:47,039 Speaker 2: this is the episode for you. So let's go ahead 33 00:01:47,080 --> 00:01:48,680 Speaker 2: and dive into these tips that I'm going to share 34 00:01:48,680 --> 00:01:51,120 Speaker 2: with you today. So number one I want you to 35 00:01:51,160 --> 00:01:53,480 Speaker 2: do is to fight. I want you to fight for 36 00:01:53,600 --> 00:01:56,760 Speaker 2: your time with reading the Word. And the reason why 37 00:01:56,760 --> 00:01:59,400 Speaker 2: I say that is because Satan does not want us 38 00:01:59,360 --> 00:02:01,040 Speaker 2: to reading the Bible. Well, he just does not. He 39 00:02:01,080 --> 00:02:03,000 Speaker 2: doesn't want us to grow, He doesn't want us to 40 00:02:03,040 --> 00:02:05,440 Speaker 2: know more about the Lord. He doesn't want us to 41 00:02:05,920 --> 00:02:10,080 Speaker 2: be comforted or strengthened or encouraged or to learn more 42 00:02:10,160 --> 00:02:11,840 Speaker 2: about what it is that the Lord would have us 43 00:02:11,840 --> 00:02:13,800 Speaker 2: to do. Because let me tell you something when you 44 00:02:13,840 --> 00:02:15,840 Speaker 2: are reading the Word, When you and I are reading 45 00:02:15,919 --> 00:02:18,320 Speaker 2: the Word of God, that is where we get wisdom. 46 00:02:18,560 --> 00:02:21,160 Speaker 2: That is where we get instruction. That is where we 47 00:02:21,200 --> 00:02:25,000 Speaker 2: get strengths. Okay, that is how we're able to learn 48 00:02:25,040 --> 00:02:28,200 Speaker 2: how to not only live the life of Christianity ourselves, 49 00:02:28,480 --> 00:02:32,040 Speaker 2: but also how to teach others, whether they're our children, 50 00:02:32,280 --> 00:02:36,000 Speaker 2: whether our nieces and nephews, if you have grandchildren, you know, 51 00:02:36,160 --> 00:02:38,560 Speaker 2: if you have coworkers, or you know, maybe you're in 52 00:02:38,560 --> 00:02:40,800 Speaker 2: college and you're listening to this and you have you know, 53 00:02:40,880 --> 00:02:44,040 Speaker 2: other fellow students or church members, when you're having a 54 00:02:44,080 --> 00:02:48,320 Speaker 2: conversation with someone, when you're having coffee or lunch. The 55 00:02:48,360 --> 00:02:50,600 Speaker 2: Word of God, when we spend time in it and 56 00:02:50,680 --> 00:02:54,239 Speaker 2: we're reading it, it comes up easily, it comes up 57 00:02:54,600 --> 00:02:57,440 Speaker 2: more readily. It's more available to us. It's not like 58 00:02:57,520 --> 00:02:59,560 Speaker 2: we have to try to figure out what we're going 59 00:02:59,600 --> 00:03:04,720 Speaker 2: to say, because it's already there because we've been steadily reading. Right, 60 00:03:04,760 --> 00:03:07,959 Speaker 2: it's not a strive for us. So if you find 61 00:03:08,040 --> 00:03:11,840 Speaker 2: yourself striving, then that's an indicator that you're going to 62 00:03:11,880 --> 00:03:14,120 Speaker 2: have to fight for it, because again, Satan does not 63 00:03:14,760 --> 00:03:16,240 Speaker 2: want you to do that, and so you have to 64 00:03:16,480 --> 00:03:19,079 Speaker 2: get that Bible, and I'm going to share some practical 65 00:03:19,080 --> 00:03:21,520 Speaker 2: tips with you in just a little bit, but any 66 00:03:21,560 --> 00:03:23,040 Speaker 2: way that you can get it and just say, you 67 00:03:23,120 --> 00:03:26,519 Speaker 2: know what, if I just read for five minutes, if 68 00:03:26,520 --> 00:03:29,240 Speaker 2: I just read for two minutes, if I just listen 69 00:03:29,280 --> 00:03:32,639 Speaker 2: to it for five minutes or ten minutes, I'm feeding myself. 70 00:03:32,720 --> 00:03:35,720 Speaker 2: I'm getting the Word inside of me. I'm hiding this 71 00:03:35,760 --> 00:03:38,200 Speaker 2: word in my heart. The Bible talks about that so 72 00:03:38,200 --> 00:03:39,960 Speaker 2: that you might not sin against God, because that's the 73 00:03:40,000 --> 00:03:42,240 Speaker 2: thing that is a thing when you and I are 74 00:03:42,280 --> 00:03:44,560 Speaker 2: reading the Word of God. It helps us not to 75 00:03:44,680 --> 00:03:48,120 Speaker 2: sin readily and easily because we are going to make mistakes, 76 00:03:48,160 --> 00:03:50,280 Speaker 2: we are going to do things that are not going 77 00:03:50,320 --> 00:03:52,840 Speaker 2: to be pleasing them to the Lord. Sometimes it's just 78 00:03:52,880 --> 00:03:55,520 Speaker 2: a thing, right, and so that's why we need the Word. 79 00:03:55,880 --> 00:03:57,600 Speaker 2: But if we're not in it, and we're not close 80 00:03:57,680 --> 00:03:59,840 Speaker 2: to the vine, and we're not staying connected to the Word, 81 00:04:00,120 --> 00:04:04,760 Speaker 2: not abiding in Christ, then we're going to be less fruitful. 82 00:04:05,280 --> 00:04:07,640 Speaker 2: Like he says, if you abide in me, if you 83 00:04:07,680 --> 00:04:10,720 Speaker 2: stay close to the vine like John fifteen five talks 84 00:04:10,760 --> 00:04:14,119 Speaker 2: about and John fifteen four talks about, then we will 85 00:04:14,160 --> 00:04:16,200 Speaker 2: be able to bear much fruit, and let me go 86 00:04:16,200 --> 00:04:17,560 Speaker 2: ahead and read that verse. I want to read that 87 00:04:17,600 --> 00:04:19,560 Speaker 2: passage right now, all right, So I'm going to go 88 00:04:19,560 --> 00:04:22,280 Speaker 2: ahead and read from John fifteen one. I'm going to 89 00:04:22,320 --> 00:04:25,119 Speaker 2: start at verse one, so bear with me. The Bible says, 90 00:04:25,560 --> 00:04:28,040 Speaker 2: read the scriptures right to the churches, and we are 91 00:04:28,040 --> 00:04:30,400 Speaker 2: the church. If you're in the body of Christ, then 92 00:04:30,440 --> 00:04:32,680 Speaker 2: you are a child of God, and you are being 93 00:04:32,680 --> 00:04:35,440 Speaker 2: read the scriptures today. Okay, so here we go. I 94 00:04:35,520 --> 00:04:38,440 Speaker 2: am the true grape vine. This is Jesus in your Bible. 95 00:04:38,440 --> 00:04:40,360 Speaker 2: It's going to be read. And this is what he's 96 00:04:40,360 --> 00:04:42,680 Speaker 2: saying to us. Okay. He was speaking to them in 97 00:04:42,720 --> 00:04:45,200 Speaker 2: their day, he's speaking to us in our day. Again. 98 00:04:45,279 --> 00:04:47,960 Speaker 2: It says, I am the true grapevine, and my father 99 00:04:48,120 --> 00:04:50,920 Speaker 2: is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine 100 00:04:50,960 --> 00:04:54,280 Speaker 2: that doesn't produce fruit, and he proves the branches that 101 00:04:54,400 --> 00:04:57,839 Speaker 2: do bear fruit, so they will produce even more. In 102 00:04:57,920 --> 00:05:00,680 Speaker 2: verse three, it says, you have already been pruned and 103 00:05:00,760 --> 00:05:04,200 Speaker 2: purified by the message I have given you. Remain in me, 104 00:05:04,560 --> 00:05:07,520 Speaker 2: and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot 105 00:05:07,520 --> 00:05:11,320 Speaker 2: produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and 106 00:05:11,360 --> 00:05:14,719 Speaker 2: you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. Okay, 107 00:05:14,760 --> 00:05:16,159 Speaker 2: So I want to pause it for a moment because 108 00:05:16,200 --> 00:05:18,479 Speaker 2: I want to break this particular verse down. And this 109 00:05:18,520 --> 00:05:21,280 Speaker 2: is in John fifteen four. This is this verse I'm 110 00:05:21,279 --> 00:05:23,479 Speaker 2: going to break down. So it says, remain in me 111 00:05:24,120 --> 00:05:26,520 Speaker 2: and I this is Jesus, and I will remain in you. 112 00:05:26,720 --> 00:05:29,839 Speaker 2: For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed 113 00:05:29,920 --> 00:05:33,520 Speaker 2: from the vine. So if you are severed from the vine, 114 00:05:33,560 --> 00:05:36,360 Speaker 2: if you walk away, for instance, from your faith, if 115 00:05:36,400 --> 00:05:39,240 Speaker 2: you are struggling, whether it's a test or a trial, 116 00:05:39,360 --> 00:05:41,160 Speaker 2: or you're just upset with God. Because let me tell 117 00:05:41,160 --> 00:05:42,560 Speaker 2: you something, that is a thing. You can be mad 118 00:05:42,600 --> 00:05:45,000 Speaker 2: with God, especially when you're going through some hard things, 119 00:05:45,520 --> 00:05:49,039 Speaker 2: if you are severed from Christ in any way, if 120 00:05:49,080 --> 00:05:51,359 Speaker 2: you are not abiding in Him, it goes on and 121 00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:54,560 Speaker 2: talks about abiding. Also if you are not abiding, if 122 00:05:54,600 --> 00:05:57,640 Speaker 2: I am not abiding, if I am not remaining in Him, 123 00:05:58,080 --> 00:06:01,240 Speaker 2: if I am severed from the vine. Jesus Christ is 124 00:06:01,240 --> 00:06:04,400 Speaker 2: the vine, then I can't produce fruit because he goes 125 00:06:04,400 --> 00:06:07,560 Speaker 2: on a thing. You cannot be fruitful unless you remain 126 00:06:07,839 --> 00:06:10,120 Speaker 2: in me. So here's the thing. I want you to 127 00:06:10,160 --> 00:06:11,720 Speaker 2: just look at your life because you're talking about, Hey, 128 00:06:11,800 --> 00:06:14,480 Speaker 2: I'm struggling with reading the Bible right now, because that's 129 00:06:14,480 --> 00:06:16,440 Speaker 2: where you're listening to this episode. That's why you tuned in, 130 00:06:16,560 --> 00:06:18,000 Speaker 2: or maybe you shared it with a friend you wanted 131 00:06:18,040 --> 00:06:19,880 Speaker 2: to because you know a friend or a family member 132 00:06:19,960 --> 00:06:23,000 Speaker 2: struggling here. So here's the thing. If we're severed, we 133 00:06:23,080 --> 00:06:27,159 Speaker 2: can't be fruitful. We cannot bear that delicious good love, 134 00:06:27,520 --> 00:06:32,480 Speaker 2: joy and peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. 135 00:06:32,600 --> 00:06:34,480 Speaker 2: That's fruit. That's the fruit of the spirit. That's in 136 00:06:34,520 --> 00:06:38,599 Speaker 2: Galatians five, twenty two and twenty three. James four eight says, 137 00:06:39,400 --> 00:06:41,800 Speaker 2: draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. 138 00:06:41,920 --> 00:06:44,960 Speaker 2: So we have to draw closer to God. That's for 139 00:06:45,040 --> 00:06:48,160 Speaker 2: us to draw closer to Him, and He is going 140 00:06:48,160 --> 00:06:51,440 Speaker 2: to draw closer to us. This is all about connection. 141 00:06:51,640 --> 00:06:55,520 Speaker 2: This is all about staying connected to Christ. And so 142 00:06:55,560 --> 00:06:59,800 Speaker 2: we have to again fight for this time because if 143 00:06:59,839 --> 00:07:03,240 Speaker 2: you you are not being loving, if you are not 144 00:07:03,600 --> 00:07:08,320 Speaker 2: being patient, if you are struggling in these areas, it's 145 00:07:08,360 --> 00:07:11,520 Speaker 2: because you've gotten too far away from the vine. You've 146 00:07:11,560 --> 00:07:14,680 Speaker 2: gotten too far away from the word. The Word has 147 00:07:14,760 --> 00:07:18,080 Speaker 2: been pushed back, Your Bible has not been opened as much. 148 00:07:18,480 --> 00:07:21,120 Speaker 2: You are not as interested as you used to be, 149 00:07:21,480 --> 00:07:24,160 Speaker 2: right as when you first believed, as when you first 150 00:07:24,560 --> 00:07:27,920 Speaker 2: believed in Christ. And so everything else is getting in 151 00:07:28,000 --> 00:07:33,080 Speaker 2: the way. And so now he's become distant, You've become distant, 152 00:07:33,280 --> 00:07:35,520 Speaker 2: and so now reading the Bible is harder because now 153 00:07:35,520 --> 00:07:38,720 Speaker 2: your interests maybe you're interested in working. I get like 154 00:07:38,760 --> 00:07:41,280 Speaker 2: that sometimes, like ooh, I got to do emails, and 155 00:07:41,320 --> 00:07:43,360 Speaker 2: I've got to create, and I've got to put content 156 00:07:43,400 --> 00:07:45,520 Speaker 2: out there on social media and all these platforms, and 157 00:07:46,000 --> 00:07:48,720 Speaker 2: I get very busy. And I love working for Jesus. 158 00:07:48,800 --> 00:07:53,000 Speaker 2: I love working for the Lord. I do. But that's 159 00:07:53,040 --> 00:07:55,280 Speaker 2: the Martha syndrome, is what I like to call it. Right. 160 00:07:55,360 --> 00:07:57,720 Speaker 2: We want to be busy doing all the things for Jesus, 161 00:07:58,240 --> 00:08:00,560 Speaker 2: But then Jesus is saying, hey, come and sit with 162 00:08:00,600 --> 00:08:02,320 Speaker 2: me because I want to teach you some things. And 163 00:08:02,320 --> 00:08:06,560 Speaker 2: he teaches us through his word and through the Holy Spirit. 164 00:08:06,800 --> 00:08:10,360 Speaker 2: That's our guide, the Holy Spirit, right, And so if 165 00:08:10,400 --> 00:08:13,400 Speaker 2: we're not in the Word, then it's hard for us 166 00:08:13,400 --> 00:08:15,640 Speaker 2: to hear the Lord. It's hard for us to know 167 00:08:15,840 --> 00:08:18,640 Speaker 2: and to discern truth. It's hard for us to discern 168 00:08:18,680 --> 00:08:21,120 Speaker 2: and know who's speaking when someone's speaking to you or 169 00:08:21,120 --> 00:08:22,840 Speaker 2: talking to you and they're saying, hey, this is what 170 00:08:22,920 --> 00:08:25,400 Speaker 2: I think God wants you to do. But if it's 171 00:08:25,400 --> 00:08:27,760 Speaker 2: not lining up with the word of God, or if 172 00:08:27,800 --> 00:08:29,640 Speaker 2: it's not lining up with the Holy Spirit and what 173 00:08:29,680 --> 00:08:33,679 Speaker 2: he would say, then it's because you possibly maybe are 174 00:08:33,720 --> 00:08:36,400 Speaker 2: not that close to be able to discern whether or 175 00:08:36,440 --> 00:08:39,440 Speaker 2: not that's truth or error, whether it's truth or false. 176 00:08:40,160 --> 00:08:42,880 Speaker 2: And so we have to stay close to the vine. 177 00:08:43,480 --> 00:08:46,360 Speaker 2: Not only will it help us to discern, but it 178 00:08:46,400 --> 00:08:48,840 Speaker 2: will help us to be fruitful, to be more patient, 179 00:08:48,840 --> 00:08:52,000 Speaker 2: to be more loving, to be more joyful, to be 180 00:08:52,760 --> 00:08:55,800 Speaker 2: more humble and have self control, and to be faithful 181 00:08:55,840 --> 00:08:58,480 Speaker 2: and to have faith strong faith. And so this is 182 00:08:58,600 --> 00:09:00,800 Speaker 2: so so important. So let me go on. I want 183 00:09:00,800 --> 00:09:03,559 Speaker 2: to read a little bit more. And John fifteen, p. 184 00:09:03,679 --> 00:09:05,880 Speaker 2: Five is says, this is what Jesus says. He says, Yes, 185 00:09:05,960 --> 00:09:10,200 Speaker 2: I am the vine, and you are the branches. Those 186 00:09:10,240 --> 00:09:14,400 Speaker 2: who remain in me and I in them will produce 187 00:09:14,760 --> 00:09:18,600 Speaker 2: much fruit. You're going to produce much fruit. I'm going 188 00:09:18,679 --> 00:09:22,760 Speaker 2: to produce much fruit. So if I'm getting cornal, or 189 00:09:22,760 --> 00:09:25,520 Speaker 2: I'm saying things or thinking things or doing things or 190 00:09:25,559 --> 00:09:28,360 Speaker 2: acting in a way that is not pleasing onto the Lord. 191 00:09:28,360 --> 00:09:32,839 Speaker 2: That is unfruitful. It's because I'm struggling. It's because I'm striving. 192 00:09:33,360 --> 00:09:37,640 Speaker 2: It's because I'm not stable in the reading of the word. 193 00:09:37,679 --> 00:09:42,280 Speaker 2: I'm not consistent, right, I'm not steady. So I'm wavering 194 00:09:42,400 --> 00:09:45,520 Speaker 2: a little bit and I'm getting away, and I'm not 195 00:09:45,600 --> 00:09:48,040 Speaker 2: able to produce that fruit. I'm not able to do 196 00:09:48,080 --> 00:09:51,280 Speaker 2: those good things. Producing fruit is also the fruit of 197 00:09:51,280 --> 00:09:53,800 Speaker 2: the work that you're doing. Also, so it's a dual 198 00:09:54,120 --> 00:09:59,120 Speaker 2: meaning there. So producing fruit right in regards to character 199 00:09:59,480 --> 00:10:01,440 Speaker 2: what I just to buy fruit of the spirit. But 200 00:10:01,440 --> 00:10:03,560 Speaker 2: it's also you're not going to be able to produce 201 00:10:03,600 --> 00:10:06,640 Speaker 2: the good fruit in regards to the things that you're doing. 202 00:10:06,720 --> 00:10:08,719 Speaker 2: So fruit can be mean two different things. I just 203 00:10:08,800 --> 00:10:11,880 Speaker 2: want to put that out there. So he's saying, apart 204 00:10:11,920 --> 00:10:14,240 Speaker 2: from me, you can do we're talking about that. You 205 00:10:14,280 --> 00:10:16,920 Speaker 2: can do nothing. You can do nothing. That's what he 206 00:10:16,960 --> 00:10:19,280 Speaker 2: goes on to say. Next for apart from me, you 207 00:10:19,320 --> 00:10:24,160 Speaker 2: can do nothing. You cannot produce any fruit without me. 208 00:10:25,400 --> 00:10:29,200 Speaker 2: So we have to stay connected. We have to fight 209 00:10:29,920 --> 00:10:34,160 Speaker 2: for the word of God to read it. Okay, all right, 210 00:10:34,160 --> 00:10:36,040 Speaker 2: So I'm going to move on. I'm going to move 211 00:10:36,040 --> 00:10:38,959 Speaker 2: on now I want to share a testimony, and it's 212 00:10:38,960 --> 00:10:41,920 Speaker 2: my testimony. And this is something that happened to me 213 00:10:42,200 --> 00:10:46,080 Speaker 2: years ago, probably maybe about fifteen years ago, I would say. 214 00:10:46,800 --> 00:10:49,200 Speaker 2: And I was in my bedroom. I was cleaning. I 215 00:10:49,200 --> 00:10:51,280 Speaker 2: had worship music on praise and worship, and I was 216 00:10:51,320 --> 00:10:53,680 Speaker 2: just having a grand time cleaning up my house, okay, 217 00:10:53,800 --> 00:10:57,120 Speaker 2: cleaning up my bedroom. And I was like, oh my Gosh, 218 00:10:57,160 --> 00:10:59,679 Speaker 2: I love you so much. And I had like these 219 00:11:00,080 --> 00:11:01,960 Speaker 2: you know, my bed had like these posts, and I 220 00:11:02,000 --> 00:11:04,080 Speaker 2: was like hugging the posts and I'm like, God, I 221 00:11:04,120 --> 00:11:06,079 Speaker 2: just love you. I was like imagining, let me say 222 00:11:06,080 --> 00:11:08,400 Speaker 2: this something I could be dramatic. Okay, I can be dramatic. 223 00:11:09,280 --> 00:11:12,360 Speaker 2: My husband's like, yes you are. And I was just 224 00:11:12,400 --> 00:11:14,800 Speaker 2: holding on to the posts as I was worshiping God, 225 00:11:14,840 --> 00:11:16,720 Speaker 2: and I was like, God, I just love you so much. 226 00:11:16,720 --> 00:11:18,839 Speaker 2: And I was just imagining that I was hugging the Lord. 227 00:11:19,760 --> 00:11:22,440 Speaker 2: And you know what he told me. God whispered to me. 228 00:11:22,480 --> 00:11:25,360 Speaker 2: He said, Satan is going to try to rob you 229 00:11:25,480 --> 00:11:28,600 Speaker 2: of this. He is going to try to rob you 230 00:11:28,640 --> 00:11:33,360 Speaker 2: of your affection for me. Immediately, Colossius three to two 231 00:11:33,679 --> 00:11:36,080 Speaker 2: came up because I knew the word, because I had 232 00:11:36,120 --> 00:11:39,240 Speaker 2: been spending time in the word. I knew that verse 233 00:11:39,400 --> 00:11:41,160 Speaker 2: that he gave me, and it was set your affections 234 00:11:41,160 --> 00:11:44,160 Speaker 2: on things above, not on things on the earth. The 235 00:11:44,320 --> 00:11:47,920 Speaker 2: enemy was going to try to rob me of those affections, 236 00:11:48,280 --> 00:11:51,280 Speaker 2: the affection that I had for the Lord. And so 237 00:11:51,400 --> 00:11:53,120 Speaker 2: God was telling me, I want you to make sure 238 00:11:53,240 --> 00:11:56,760 Speaker 2: that you stay connected to me and set your affections 239 00:11:56,760 --> 00:12:00,440 Speaker 2: on things above. Set your affections on heaven things. Set 240 00:12:00,480 --> 00:12:05,280 Speaker 2: your affections on things that please me, that are good, right, 241 00:12:05,679 --> 00:12:07,840 Speaker 2: that are wholesome, that are pure like think, you know, 242 00:12:07,920 --> 00:12:10,959 Speaker 2: think on those things right, not on things of this earth. 243 00:12:11,559 --> 00:12:14,640 Speaker 2: Don't get so caught up. And all the things that 244 00:12:14,679 --> 00:12:16,640 Speaker 2: are happening, all the things that you have to do, 245 00:12:17,360 --> 00:12:20,400 Speaker 2: all the tests, all the trials, all the tribulations, all 246 00:12:20,400 --> 00:12:25,320 Speaker 2: the issues, all the needs, all the wants, all the desires, 247 00:12:25,360 --> 00:12:29,520 Speaker 2: all the problems, all the social media, everything, right, I 248 00:12:29,559 --> 00:12:32,240 Speaker 2: want you to set your affections on things above, because 249 00:12:32,280 --> 00:12:34,600 Speaker 2: the enemy is going to try to rob you. We 250 00:12:34,800 --> 00:12:38,960 Speaker 2: know that he is a thief, he is a robber, okay, 251 00:12:39,360 --> 00:12:41,440 Speaker 2: and that's all he wants to do is rob our 252 00:12:41,480 --> 00:12:44,120 Speaker 2: affections from the Lord. And so we have to watch 253 00:12:44,160 --> 00:12:46,640 Speaker 2: out for busyness. We also have to make sure that 254 00:12:46,679 --> 00:12:49,280 Speaker 2: we watch out for our leisure. I remember listening to 255 00:12:49,320 --> 00:12:53,080 Speaker 2: a podcast episode by John Piper and he said, watch 256 00:12:53,120 --> 00:12:57,160 Speaker 2: your leisure, and I've never forgotten that episode. So what 257 00:12:57,200 --> 00:13:00,320 Speaker 2: does that mean? So sometimes right when we're trying to 258 00:13:00,640 --> 00:13:02,760 Speaker 2: get into the Bible, and we want to read the Bible, 259 00:13:02,760 --> 00:13:04,160 Speaker 2: but then all of a sudden, we're like, you know what, 260 00:13:04,160 --> 00:13:06,240 Speaker 2: I'm tired, I want to watch a movie, and so 261 00:13:06,360 --> 00:13:08,360 Speaker 2: we end up watching a movie and we're not reading 262 00:13:08,360 --> 00:13:10,400 Speaker 2: the word. Or you want to just relax, and however 263 00:13:10,440 --> 00:13:13,160 Speaker 2: you relax and you're just relaxing a lot. Okay, we 264 00:13:13,160 --> 00:13:16,319 Speaker 2: don't want to be slow full. Okay. And maybe you're 265 00:13:16,360 --> 00:13:19,199 Speaker 2: scrolling on your phone and it takes minutes, all of 266 00:13:19,240 --> 00:13:22,360 Speaker 2: a sudden, it's hours. Right, you're scrolling on your phone 267 00:13:22,520 --> 00:13:25,240 Speaker 2: and you could have spent some time reading your Bible app. 268 00:13:25,280 --> 00:13:27,079 Speaker 2: You could have spent some time opening up your Bible. 269 00:13:27,120 --> 00:13:29,400 Speaker 2: You could have spent some time opening up a book 270 00:13:29,440 --> 00:13:31,960 Speaker 2: that has scriptures within it as you're reading a regular book, 271 00:13:32,000 --> 00:13:33,920 Speaker 2: a Christian book. Right, And I have so many books. 272 00:13:33,920 --> 00:13:37,160 Speaker 2: I have about four hundred books on my shelf, okay shelves, 273 00:13:37,240 --> 00:13:39,719 Speaker 2: and I could have spent time opening up one of 274 00:13:39,760 --> 00:13:42,440 Speaker 2: those books, and I know that I'm going to find 275 00:13:42,440 --> 00:13:44,160 Speaker 2: the word. I know I'm going to find a scripture 276 00:13:44,200 --> 00:13:46,720 Speaker 2: in the middle of what I'm reading. So instead of 277 00:13:46,760 --> 00:13:51,160 Speaker 2: scrolling the internet all the time, right for entertainment, Okay, 278 00:13:51,200 --> 00:13:53,640 Speaker 2: I'm just saying, because we can scroll the internet and 279 00:13:53,640 --> 00:13:57,040 Speaker 2: their scriptures. Okay, we can scroll the internet and there's 280 00:13:57,080 --> 00:14:00,520 Speaker 2: worship and there's a message and there's something good, and 281 00:14:00,559 --> 00:14:03,280 Speaker 2: there's something scriptural that we can get. We can do that. 282 00:14:03,280 --> 00:14:05,439 Speaker 2: That is so true. We can do that. But sometimes 283 00:14:05,480 --> 00:14:08,800 Speaker 2: it's just funny. Sometimes it's just entertainment. Sometimes it's just 284 00:14:09,440 --> 00:14:11,839 Speaker 2: learning knowledge about what's going on in the world. Right, 285 00:14:11,880 --> 00:14:14,640 Speaker 2: And there's nothing wrong with some of those things. Some 286 00:14:15,000 --> 00:14:16,600 Speaker 2: of that stuff ain't right, okay, So you know you 287 00:14:16,679 --> 00:14:18,400 Speaker 2: just got to like set your eyes on things that 288 00:14:18,440 --> 00:14:20,840 Speaker 2: are right. Okay, the eyes of the window to the soul, 289 00:14:21,040 --> 00:14:24,360 Speaker 2: that's scripture. But could you have been spending time reading 290 00:14:24,400 --> 00:14:26,800 Speaker 2: the Word of God. Maybe you're playing a game on 291 00:14:26,840 --> 00:14:28,560 Speaker 2: your phone. I have games on my phone. I like 292 00:14:28,640 --> 00:14:31,920 Speaker 2: to relax to playing a game. I like cooking games. Listen, 293 00:14:32,160 --> 00:14:34,920 Speaker 2: I could be playing a cooking game and it's eleven 294 00:14:34,920 --> 00:14:36,880 Speaker 2: o'clock at night. Before you know it, it's two or 295 00:14:36,880 --> 00:14:40,480 Speaker 2: three in the morning. That's how wrapped up I could 296 00:14:40,520 --> 00:14:43,280 Speaker 2: get into those cooking games. I just love it as 297 00:14:43,320 --> 00:14:45,640 Speaker 2: a kid. I just love having fun. Now. I know 298 00:14:45,640 --> 00:14:47,720 Speaker 2: you're probably thinking, well, you know when I was a child, 299 00:14:47,800 --> 00:14:50,080 Speaker 2: I did things as a child. Listen, you can have fun, 300 00:14:51,520 --> 00:14:54,840 Speaker 2: but we have to watch our leisure. That is what 301 00:14:54,880 --> 00:15:00,640 Speaker 2: I'm getting at. If your leisure is more interesting, more fun, 302 00:15:01,320 --> 00:15:03,920 Speaker 2: better than you know, reading the Word of God, You've 303 00:15:03,920 --> 00:15:06,160 Speaker 2: got to check your heart. I've got to check my heart. 304 00:15:06,200 --> 00:15:09,160 Speaker 2: We've got to check our hearts. God is big on 305 00:15:09,200 --> 00:15:12,640 Speaker 2: the heart, and if those things are robbing our affections, 306 00:15:13,320 --> 00:15:15,680 Speaker 2: then we got to stop. We got to say, okay, 307 00:15:15,720 --> 00:15:20,920 Speaker 2: hold on, time out. This cannot be more exciting, more fun, 308 00:15:21,680 --> 00:15:25,280 Speaker 2: more interesting than reading the Word and getting to know 309 00:15:25,320 --> 00:15:27,640 Speaker 2: what God's word says to me, his written word, his 310 00:15:27,760 --> 00:15:31,400 Speaker 2: words to me. I have to be careful of that 311 00:15:31,640 --> 00:15:34,520 Speaker 2: because again we have to watch Satan. Because Satan does 312 00:15:34,560 --> 00:15:37,800 Speaker 2: not want us to be in love with the word 313 00:15:37,840 --> 00:15:39,960 Speaker 2: of God. He does not want us to be fixated 314 00:15:40,000 --> 00:15:42,360 Speaker 2: on the word of God. He wants us to struggle, 315 00:15:42,400 --> 00:15:45,240 Speaker 2: he wants us to strive, and God saying no, this 316 00:15:45,240 --> 00:15:47,560 Speaker 2: should not be a struggle. This should be something that 317 00:15:47,600 --> 00:15:51,440 Speaker 2: you desire, right, This should be a heart's desire for you. 318 00:15:52,240 --> 00:15:55,680 Speaker 2: And one of the verses that I love, and a 319 00:15:55,720 --> 00:15:58,200 Speaker 2: lot of us here a lot and we're like, you 320 00:15:58,240 --> 00:15:59,840 Speaker 2: know what, He's going to give me the desires of 321 00:15:59,840 --> 00:16:02,280 Speaker 2: my heart. God, grant me the desires of my heart. 322 00:16:02,320 --> 00:16:04,880 Speaker 2: I want the desires of my heart. But there is 323 00:16:04,920 --> 00:16:08,400 Speaker 2: a prerequisite to that, okay, and that is he says, 324 00:16:08,440 --> 00:16:11,360 Speaker 2: if you delight yourself in me, then I will give 325 00:16:11,360 --> 00:16:13,920 Speaker 2: you the desires of your heart. And so that always 326 00:16:13,960 --> 00:16:17,000 Speaker 2: helps me to just you know, make sure I'm like, Okay, 327 00:16:17,440 --> 00:16:19,480 Speaker 2: I'm praying for this, I'm asking for this, But am 328 00:16:19,520 --> 00:16:23,680 Speaker 2: I delighting myself and him? Am I truly desiring him more? 329 00:16:24,440 --> 00:16:26,000 Speaker 2: And so I want you to think about that. So 330 00:16:26,080 --> 00:16:28,280 Speaker 2: watch out for those things. Watch out for the business, 331 00:16:28,720 --> 00:16:31,240 Speaker 2: watch out for your leisure. Okay. So right now, we're 332 00:16:31,280 --> 00:16:33,320 Speaker 2: going to take a quick break, and when I get back, 333 00:16:33,360 --> 00:16:35,920 Speaker 2: I'm going to share some more practical ways of what 334 00:16:36,040 --> 00:16:38,160 Speaker 2: to do when you're struggling to read the Bible, So 335 00:16:38,160 --> 00:16:41,720 Speaker 2: stay tuned for more. Welcome back. We're going to go ahead, 336 00:16:41,800 --> 00:16:43,280 Speaker 2: just like I said, We're going to talk about a 337 00:16:43,280 --> 00:16:45,640 Speaker 2: few more practical ways of what to do when you're 338 00:16:45,640 --> 00:16:48,640 Speaker 2: struggling to read the Bible. Okay, so one of the 339 00:16:48,680 --> 00:16:52,400 Speaker 2: things I want to tell you is to choose a 340 00:16:52,440 --> 00:16:54,440 Speaker 2: book of the Bible. That's what I want you to do. 341 00:16:54,560 --> 00:16:56,360 Speaker 2: You can choose a book of the Bible and say, Okay, 342 00:16:56,400 --> 00:16:58,960 Speaker 2: I'm going to read Jude. Think about that, or I'm 343 00:16:59,000 --> 00:17:01,600 Speaker 2: going to read more Mark, I'm going to read Matthew, 344 00:17:01,640 --> 00:17:04,119 Speaker 2: I'm going to read James. I just want you to 345 00:17:04,119 --> 00:17:07,040 Speaker 2: be very intentional about this. The other one I would 346 00:17:07,040 --> 00:17:09,520 Speaker 2: say is to think about reading about a character like 347 00:17:09,600 --> 00:17:12,760 Speaker 2: you can study a character. I love Joshua, I love Paul. 348 00:17:12,800 --> 00:17:14,720 Speaker 2: I have a book on Paul. I have not even 349 00:17:14,840 --> 00:17:17,120 Speaker 2: read all the way through this book, but because it's 350 00:17:17,200 --> 00:17:20,800 Speaker 2: so thick, okay, but Paul is one of my favorite 351 00:17:20,840 --> 00:17:25,040 Speaker 2: Bible characters. And I'm also reading a book about Deborah. Okay. 352 00:17:25,080 --> 00:17:27,840 Speaker 2: God has me learning a little bit more about Deborah. 353 00:17:27,880 --> 00:17:30,840 Speaker 2: And so this is about being intentional. And all of 354 00:17:30,880 --> 00:17:33,080 Speaker 2: this is reading the words. So if you're struggling to 355 00:17:33,119 --> 00:17:35,359 Speaker 2: do this right and you want to be more consistent, 356 00:17:35,480 --> 00:17:37,679 Speaker 2: you want to really take a deep dive into this, 357 00:17:37,760 --> 00:17:40,240 Speaker 2: you want to get closer to him, then this is 358 00:17:40,280 --> 00:17:42,000 Speaker 2: going to be a good way to do this. The 359 00:17:42,080 --> 00:17:45,200 Speaker 2: other thing I love to recommend is to get a commentary. 360 00:17:45,440 --> 00:17:47,720 Speaker 2: Now this can be on your phone, it could be digital, 361 00:17:48,000 --> 00:17:50,199 Speaker 2: but it can also be a big book. Like I 362 00:17:50,200 --> 00:17:52,640 Speaker 2: have a big book commentary. I love to break out 363 00:17:52,640 --> 00:17:55,439 Speaker 2: my high letter and my pens. I have notebooks and stuff, 364 00:17:55,480 --> 00:17:57,840 Speaker 2: and so I love to do that. I also have 365 00:17:57,880 --> 00:18:01,720 Speaker 2: a concordance, and you can do this all digital or again, 366 00:18:01,960 --> 00:18:04,760 Speaker 2: you can buy a concordance. So go to Amazon or 367 00:18:04,800 --> 00:18:07,000 Speaker 2: go to a Christian book store in your area and 368 00:18:07,080 --> 00:18:10,119 Speaker 2: grab one of the commentaries or a concordance and a concordance. 369 00:18:10,119 --> 00:18:12,479 Speaker 2: If you don't know what that is, a concordance is 370 00:18:12,560 --> 00:18:14,320 Speaker 2: just like, for instance, if you're looking at the word 371 00:18:14,359 --> 00:18:17,359 Speaker 2: trust or faith, it's just going to give you all 372 00:18:17,400 --> 00:18:20,520 Speaker 2: of these Bible verses on the word trust and faith, 373 00:18:20,560 --> 00:18:23,919 Speaker 2: and there are so many, okay on that, but it 374 00:18:24,000 --> 00:18:27,800 Speaker 2: just gives you just a fresh, a fresh perspective on 375 00:18:27,880 --> 00:18:30,719 Speaker 2: these different passages. The other thing that I would suggest 376 00:18:30,840 --> 00:18:33,480 Speaker 2: is to get a study Bible. I love the NLT 377 00:18:33,680 --> 00:18:35,639 Speaker 2: version and so I have a study Bible on the 378 00:18:35,760 --> 00:18:39,359 Speaker 2: NLT and I absolutely love it. And I got it 379 00:18:39,400 --> 00:18:41,440 Speaker 2: from the Christian book store. But again you can order 380 00:18:41,600 --> 00:18:44,920 Speaker 2: from Amazon or get it from your local Christian book store, 381 00:18:45,320 --> 00:18:48,320 Speaker 2: but I highly encourage you to get a study Bible. 382 00:18:49,160 --> 00:18:51,679 Speaker 2: When you have a study Bible, there's a little bit 383 00:18:51,720 --> 00:18:53,840 Speaker 2: of commentary in it as well. In some of them, 384 00:18:54,359 --> 00:18:56,720 Speaker 2: which is the one that I have, but also in 385 00:18:56,760 --> 00:18:59,680 Speaker 2: the kalliums right in the left collums and in the 386 00:18:59,760 --> 00:19:04,040 Speaker 2: right calliums, what you'll see is other scriptures, parallel scriptures 387 00:19:04,280 --> 00:19:07,680 Speaker 2: that are going to share more on that particular scripture. 388 00:19:08,080 --> 00:19:11,680 Speaker 2: So if you read, let's just say Philippians for nineteen, 389 00:19:12,320 --> 00:19:13,680 Speaker 2: what it's going to do is it's going to give 390 00:19:13,680 --> 00:19:17,320 Speaker 2: you other parallel verses that's going to share verses that's 391 00:19:17,359 --> 00:19:20,359 Speaker 2: going to help you to better understand Philippians for nineteen. 392 00:19:20,440 --> 00:19:23,040 Speaker 2: So you're not just getting, you know, that particular verse. 393 00:19:23,080 --> 00:19:25,320 Speaker 2: Now you have some other verses, three or four other 394 00:19:25,440 --> 00:19:28,159 Speaker 2: verses that's going to help you to better get or 395 00:19:28,240 --> 00:19:30,600 Speaker 2: grasp what it is that you're reading and what God 396 00:19:30,680 --> 00:19:33,080 Speaker 2: is saying through that passage. That is why it's so 397 00:19:33,119 --> 00:19:35,720 Speaker 2: important to have a study Bible. If you are a preacher, 398 00:19:35,760 --> 00:19:38,600 Speaker 2: if you are a teacher, if you have a prophetic voice, 399 00:19:38,720 --> 00:19:41,720 Speaker 2: if God is using you in these ways, I want 400 00:19:41,720 --> 00:19:43,199 Speaker 2: to tell you, and I want to encourage you to 401 00:19:43,240 --> 00:19:45,560 Speaker 2: get a study Bible, even if you're trying to teach 402 00:19:45,600 --> 00:19:48,040 Speaker 2: your kids a little bit deeper, go a little bit deeper, 403 00:19:48,320 --> 00:19:50,040 Speaker 2: get a study Bible, and then that way you can 404 00:19:50,080 --> 00:19:53,720 Speaker 2: teach them even greater. Okay. It also helps you to have, 405 00:19:54,000 --> 00:19:57,199 Speaker 2: you know, knowledgeable conversations. If someone asks you about the 406 00:19:57,200 --> 00:20:00,320 Speaker 2: word and you're like okay, it just helps you to 407 00:20:00,320 --> 00:20:02,800 Speaker 2: get a better grasp of it. And so again I'm 408 00:20:02,800 --> 00:20:04,320 Speaker 2: not going to just beat a dead horse on that, 409 00:20:04,400 --> 00:20:06,879 Speaker 2: but I would encourage you to get a study Bible. 410 00:20:07,160 --> 00:20:08,800 Speaker 2: The other thing I would say is to get a dictionary, 411 00:20:08,840 --> 00:20:11,520 Speaker 2: a Bible dictionary and a thesaurus, especially if you're going 412 00:20:11,560 --> 00:20:13,119 Speaker 2: to be writing or speaking and things like that, to 413 00:20:13,200 --> 00:20:16,000 Speaker 2: kind of break down some words, and to also find 414 00:20:16,040 --> 00:20:19,240 Speaker 2: out what words mean in the Greek because it has 415 00:20:19,240 --> 00:20:22,320 Speaker 2: a different meaning in the Greek. I love being able 416 00:20:22,320 --> 00:20:25,320 Speaker 2: to pull up, Like for instance, we're talking about struggling, 417 00:20:25,480 --> 00:20:27,719 Speaker 2: I would pull up. If I'm doing a teaching a 418 00:20:27,760 --> 00:20:29,840 Speaker 2: message on this, I would go a little bit deeper. 419 00:20:29,840 --> 00:20:32,160 Speaker 2: If I was, like, you know, speaking to a crowd 420 00:20:32,200 --> 00:20:33,840 Speaker 2: of women, I would go a little bit deeper and 421 00:20:33,880 --> 00:20:37,760 Speaker 2: break this word down even better because it just helps 422 00:20:38,119 --> 00:20:39,679 Speaker 2: and you don't have to like, you don't have to 423 00:20:39,680 --> 00:20:41,959 Speaker 2: go all that deep. I'm just saying, but I do 424 00:20:42,080 --> 00:20:43,600 Speaker 2: like to break down words so that it gives us 425 00:20:43,640 --> 00:20:47,119 Speaker 2: a better understanding and it is amazing. The other thing 426 00:20:47,119 --> 00:20:48,760 Speaker 2: I would encourage you to do is to get a 427 00:20:48,800 --> 00:20:52,000 Speaker 2: notebook for study in particular, buy you some high letters, 428 00:20:52,000 --> 00:20:55,600 Speaker 2: some colored pins, some you know, regular pins, pins that 429 00:20:55,640 --> 00:20:58,639 Speaker 2: you like. I have pins that I love, and you know, 430 00:20:58,680 --> 00:21:01,239 Speaker 2: it's just that makes it difference to me. Okay, so 431 00:21:01,680 --> 00:21:04,200 Speaker 2: and it's fun. But I just want to encourage you 432 00:21:04,240 --> 00:21:06,320 Speaker 2: to make sure that you have all of the tools 433 00:21:06,320 --> 00:21:08,040 Speaker 2: that you need when you're sitting down to study and 434 00:21:08,080 --> 00:21:10,800 Speaker 2: read the Word of God. And the other thing you 435 00:21:10,840 --> 00:21:14,359 Speaker 2: can do is to watch YouTube videos that have messages 436 00:21:14,520 --> 00:21:17,679 Speaker 2: or stories or movies on Bible characters or on books 437 00:21:17,680 --> 00:21:20,280 Speaker 2: of the Bible. Just make sure that you make sure 438 00:21:20,280 --> 00:21:23,479 Speaker 2: that it aligns with truth because sometimes, you know, drama 439 00:21:23,560 --> 00:21:25,879 Speaker 2: is drama and they can add things to it. But 440 00:21:25,960 --> 00:21:28,119 Speaker 2: if you know the word, you will not have the 441 00:21:28,160 --> 00:21:31,520 Speaker 2: wall pulled over your eyes. Which brings me into watching 442 00:21:31,600 --> 00:21:34,959 Speaker 2: out for deception. And this again we're talking about you know, 443 00:21:35,000 --> 00:21:37,200 Speaker 2: when you are struggling to read the word. The enemy 444 00:21:37,240 --> 00:21:39,480 Speaker 2: again is not going to want you to read the word. 445 00:21:39,840 --> 00:21:43,119 Speaker 2: And so AI is a thing we have to talk about. AI. 446 00:21:43,560 --> 00:21:46,280 Speaker 2: AI can be deceptive, and that is why you have 447 00:21:46,359 --> 00:21:48,800 Speaker 2: to fight to read the word so that you can 448 00:21:48,800 --> 00:21:52,159 Speaker 2: discern if something is true or false. Because there's so 449 00:21:52,400 --> 00:21:56,000 Speaker 2: much out there right now where they're taking over speakers 450 00:21:56,040 --> 00:21:59,280 Speaker 2: like people that you watch, like people that you listen to. 451 00:22:00,119 --> 00:22:02,919 Speaker 2: I'm talking like people that you love to listen to 452 00:22:02,920 --> 00:22:05,600 Speaker 2: that preach the word of God. They are twisting their mouths, 453 00:22:05,600 --> 00:22:08,280 Speaker 2: twisting their words. And so if you don't know the word, 454 00:22:08,320 --> 00:22:10,200 Speaker 2: if you're not close to the vine, if you're not 455 00:22:10,800 --> 00:22:12,960 Speaker 2: reading the word for yourself, then you're going to have 456 00:22:13,000 --> 00:22:15,040 Speaker 2: the wool pold over your eyes and you're going to 457 00:22:15,040 --> 00:22:17,960 Speaker 2: be deceived, unfortunately. And so that's why another thing is 458 00:22:18,000 --> 00:22:20,399 Speaker 2: so important. So you can say, when you're seeing something 459 00:22:20,480 --> 00:22:23,720 Speaker 2: or hearing something from AI that's AI generated, you can go, nah, 460 00:22:23,760 --> 00:22:25,679 Speaker 2: that's not true. That is not the Bible, that is 461 00:22:25,720 --> 00:22:27,080 Speaker 2: not what the word of God says. That's not what 462 00:22:27,160 --> 00:22:29,119 Speaker 2: Jesus says. That's not what God's saying, that's not what 463 00:22:29,119 --> 00:22:31,879 Speaker 2: the Holy Spirit is saying to me. That is false, 464 00:22:31,880 --> 00:22:33,800 Speaker 2: and you don't have to eat it up like hotcakes. 465 00:22:34,040 --> 00:22:36,520 Speaker 2: You do not have to receive that word even if 466 00:22:36,560 --> 00:22:40,280 Speaker 2: someone is sharing something that is not true again, even 467 00:22:40,320 --> 00:22:42,720 Speaker 2: if it's a person that you're having a conversation with. Again, 468 00:22:43,000 --> 00:22:46,440 Speaker 2: if you're in the Word, you will not be deceived. 469 00:22:46,880 --> 00:22:49,160 Speaker 2: As we get closer to the return of Jesus, Christ's 470 00:22:49,160 --> 00:22:52,359 Speaker 2: deception is going to get stronger. And you may say, well, 471 00:22:52,440 --> 00:22:54,160 Speaker 2: I'm not going to be deceived. I'm going to be fine. 472 00:22:54,720 --> 00:22:56,680 Speaker 2: The way to be fine and not to be deceived 473 00:22:56,760 --> 00:22:58,679 Speaker 2: is to dive into the Word of God and to 474 00:22:58,720 --> 00:23:01,000 Speaker 2: make sure that you have a health the helping of it. 475 00:23:01,320 --> 00:23:04,640 Speaker 2: The other thing practically I would tell you is to 476 00:23:04,760 --> 00:23:06,960 Speaker 2: listen to the Bible. Get it on your Bible app. 477 00:23:06,960 --> 00:23:09,919 Speaker 2: There's you version Bible app. Go ahead and listen to 478 00:23:09,960 --> 00:23:12,080 Speaker 2: it so that you can get the word. Faith come 479 00:23:12,119 --> 00:23:13,600 Speaker 2: is by hearing and hear about the Word of God, 480 00:23:13,680 --> 00:23:18,000 Speaker 2: right and so listen to it. Listen to a podcast 481 00:23:18,040 --> 00:23:19,760 Speaker 2: that has the Word in it. Right now you're listening 482 00:23:19,800 --> 00:23:22,000 Speaker 2: to a podcast and it's word filled, and man, I've 483 00:23:22,000 --> 00:23:25,200 Speaker 2: been sharing the Word with you in this The other 484 00:23:25,200 --> 00:23:26,560 Speaker 2: thing I would encourage you to do is to get 485 00:23:26,560 --> 00:23:28,639 Speaker 2: a paper Bible. I know we have you version. I 486 00:23:28,640 --> 00:23:30,560 Speaker 2: know we have all these different Bible apps. I know 487 00:23:30,640 --> 00:23:33,000 Speaker 2: we have so much word on Google and all these 488 00:23:33,000 --> 00:23:35,040 Speaker 2: different things, and you can find it even on chat 489 00:23:35,080 --> 00:23:37,359 Speaker 2: sho between. Be mindful of that, but you know, make 490 00:23:37,400 --> 00:23:39,760 Speaker 2: sure it aligns with truth. But my point in saying 491 00:23:39,880 --> 00:23:42,879 Speaker 2: is get a paper Bible, run your fingers across it, 492 00:23:43,119 --> 00:23:44,720 Speaker 2: get your high lighter in your pens, do all the 493 00:23:44,760 --> 00:23:47,360 Speaker 2: things that I mentioned a little bit earlier. But get 494 00:23:47,359 --> 00:23:49,800 Speaker 2: a paper Bible. Because let me tell you something, Technology 495 00:23:49,880 --> 00:23:53,840 Speaker 2: goes down sometimes and technology can falter, and so if 496 00:23:53,840 --> 00:23:55,720 Speaker 2: you have a paper Bible somewhere in your house, you 497 00:23:55,720 --> 00:23:57,400 Speaker 2: can always go grab that if you need a word 498 00:23:57,400 --> 00:24:01,320 Speaker 2: from the Lord. Okay, but intentional, that's the whole point 499 00:24:01,359 --> 00:24:03,360 Speaker 2: of this. I'm getting ready to wrap up. I want 500 00:24:03,400 --> 00:24:06,040 Speaker 2: you to be intentional. God will want you to be intentional. 501 00:24:06,840 --> 00:24:09,640 Speaker 2: Sometimes you may have to just get away, like say, okay, 502 00:24:09,640 --> 00:24:11,280 Speaker 2: I got to get out of my normal element. Maybe 503 00:24:11,280 --> 00:24:13,440 Speaker 2: I need to go to the coffeehouse, go to the library, 504 00:24:13,960 --> 00:24:17,879 Speaker 2: go to a coworking space, or just get out of 505 00:24:17,920 --> 00:24:20,720 Speaker 2: my element go to a hotel. Like for me, I 506 00:24:20,760 --> 00:24:22,639 Speaker 2: want to take a personal retreat and I want to 507 00:24:22,680 --> 00:24:24,760 Speaker 2: go to a hotel where my Bible, my journal, my 508 00:24:24,840 --> 00:24:26,920 Speaker 2: highlight or my pens, all this stuff, my commentary, my 509 00:24:26,960 --> 00:24:29,800 Speaker 2: gon affordance, like my suitcase like full of all this stuff, 510 00:24:30,119 --> 00:24:33,320 Speaker 2: and I'm just like spending time with the Lord in 511 00:24:33,400 --> 00:24:35,879 Speaker 2: the hotel, getting room service and all the things. And 512 00:24:35,920 --> 00:24:38,359 Speaker 2: it's just a personal retreat between me and God. Let 513 00:24:38,440 --> 00:24:40,320 Speaker 2: me tell you, there are retreats out there. People are 514 00:24:40,359 --> 00:24:42,520 Speaker 2: inviting me to retreats, and that is great, that is awesome. 515 00:24:42,600 --> 00:24:45,480 Speaker 2: I like, listen, don't stop inviting me. I would love 516 00:24:45,520 --> 00:24:48,840 Speaker 2: to come someday. But here's the thing. A retreat for 517 00:24:49,000 --> 00:24:52,399 Speaker 2: me is retreating. It is backing away from all of 518 00:24:52,400 --> 00:24:54,639 Speaker 2: the business and getting away from all the stuff and 519 00:24:54,720 --> 00:24:58,520 Speaker 2: honestly from people too. Right, And so for me, I 520 00:24:58,840 --> 00:25:03,199 Speaker 2: don't need a retreat where I'm like doing you know 521 00:25:05,280 --> 00:25:11,240 Speaker 2: what is it like doing puzzles or doing little assignments 522 00:25:11,240 --> 00:25:13,720 Speaker 2: and worksheets and check sheets and all these different things. 523 00:25:14,119 --> 00:25:15,879 Speaker 2: Like I don't want to do that. I don't like 524 00:25:16,000 --> 00:25:19,399 Speaker 2: you know, going here a message downstairs and fellowshipping with 525 00:25:19,440 --> 00:25:21,639 Speaker 2: everybody at that time. Like that's not the type of 526 00:25:21,640 --> 00:25:24,840 Speaker 2: personal retreat when you are struggling to get into the 527 00:25:24,880 --> 00:25:29,320 Speaker 2: word of God. And have a healthy, you know, balanced 528 00:25:29,480 --> 00:25:32,000 Speaker 2: meal in the Word of God, because you've gotten away 529 00:25:32,000 --> 00:25:34,560 Speaker 2: from that and you've been snacking, right, You've been getting 530 00:25:34,560 --> 00:25:37,680 Speaker 2: little scooby snacks or dessert, you know, just getting something 531 00:25:37,680 --> 00:25:39,879 Speaker 2: that makes you feel good. But when you need to 532 00:25:40,000 --> 00:25:44,000 Speaker 2: like really get back in, dial back in to the 533 00:25:44,040 --> 00:25:46,919 Speaker 2: Word of God, you don't need all of that. You 534 00:25:47,080 --> 00:25:51,480 Speaker 2: need just you and God by yourself. Getting away. Jesus 535 00:25:51,520 --> 00:25:53,920 Speaker 2: got away to be with the Lord. You Always he 536 00:25:53,960 --> 00:25:56,120 Speaker 2: would get away in the morning or late at night. 537 00:25:56,160 --> 00:25:58,959 Speaker 2: He'd go, you know, sail across in the boat and 538 00:25:59,280 --> 00:26:03,040 Speaker 2: just go spend time him away, you know. And so 539 00:26:04,119 --> 00:26:07,520 Speaker 2: sometimes it's good to go and have retreats when everybody's 540 00:26:07,520 --> 00:26:09,120 Speaker 2: there and you can fellowship and have a good time 541 00:26:09,160 --> 00:26:11,760 Speaker 2: and talk and do all these little, you know things 542 00:26:11,800 --> 00:26:14,159 Speaker 2: together and have fun and worship and all this sudden 543 00:26:14,200 --> 00:26:17,600 Speaker 2: is great. But then sometimes God calls us to be 544 00:26:17,720 --> 00:26:21,439 Speaker 2: alone with Him right where you listen to worship and 545 00:26:21,480 --> 00:26:23,600 Speaker 2: it's just you and him. You just put your headphones 546 00:26:23,600 --> 00:26:25,840 Speaker 2: on in your room and you're in your you know, 547 00:26:26,160 --> 00:26:29,679 Speaker 2: your hotel room or maybe you've rented a cabin or 548 00:26:29,680 --> 00:26:32,480 Speaker 2: whatever the case may be, and it's just you and him. 549 00:26:33,359 --> 00:26:36,679 Speaker 2: Think about that, Like, imagine getting away. I call it 550 00:26:36,720 --> 00:26:40,440 Speaker 2: a get away with God. Getting away with God and 551 00:26:40,520 --> 00:26:43,360 Speaker 2: just having that time, that one on one with him 552 00:26:44,000 --> 00:26:47,040 Speaker 2: where you're just listening for his voice and you're just 553 00:26:47,080 --> 00:26:51,000 Speaker 2: being still and you're not watching television, you're not scrolling 554 00:26:51,000 --> 00:26:52,960 Speaker 2: your phone, you're not doing all. You put your phone 555 00:26:52,960 --> 00:26:55,000 Speaker 2: in a whole another room, or put it in the drawer, 556 00:26:55,119 --> 00:26:57,359 Speaker 2: put it in your suitcase, whatever, but get it away 557 00:26:57,359 --> 00:27:01,760 Speaker 2: from you so that you can just focus on the word, journaling, 558 00:27:02,320 --> 00:27:07,399 Speaker 2: prayer time, right, listening to him, being still meditating on 559 00:27:07,480 --> 00:27:09,960 Speaker 2: a verse, just kind of chewing with that, asking him 560 00:27:09,960 --> 00:27:14,640 Speaker 2: for understanding, reading that study Bible, looking into the kallium, 561 00:27:14,720 --> 00:27:17,720 Speaker 2: and looking at other verses on whatever word it is 562 00:27:17,760 --> 00:27:20,159 Speaker 2: that you're studying, reading the books that you've been wanting 563 00:27:20,200 --> 00:27:22,800 Speaker 2: to read, like get away for a weekend. Like if 564 00:27:22,800 --> 00:27:25,040 Speaker 2: you're married, ask your husband say, Babe, I really want 565 00:27:25,080 --> 00:27:27,160 Speaker 2: to get away with God. I just want to spend 566 00:27:27,160 --> 00:27:29,080 Speaker 2: some time away. I need a break with it from 567 00:27:29,119 --> 00:27:31,080 Speaker 2: the kiddos. You know, if you have smaller kids. My 568 00:27:31,160 --> 00:27:34,520 Speaker 2: kids are all older. But no matter what, it's having 569 00:27:34,560 --> 00:27:36,920 Speaker 2: that time. And here's the thing. You can also take 570 00:27:36,920 --> 00:27:39,600 Speaker 2: a personal retreat in your bedroom like just lock up 571 00:27:39,600 --> 00:27:41,679 Speaker 2: in your room, tell your husband and kids, hey, but 572 00:27:41,840 --> 00:27:43,480 Speaker 2: do not disturb on the side and say hey, mom 573 00:27:43,600 --> 00:27:47,800 Speaker 2: needs some time, Wifey needs some time. Okay alone, I 574 00:27:47,840 --> 00:27:49,720 Speaker 2: need to take a personal retreat with God. This is 575 00:27:49,760 --> 00:27:52,600 Speaker 2: the weekend or personal retreat with God. This day, this 576 00:27:52,720 --> 00:27:56,040 Speaker 2: is Saturday, this Sunday, whatever it is, an off day, 577 00:27:56,400 --> 00:27:59,000 Speaker 2: do whatever you need to do. Again, going back to 578 00:27:59,040 --> 00:28:02,639 Speaker 2: the beginning of what I say, fight for your time 579 00:28:03,400 --> 00:28:09,359 Speaker 2: with God. Stay close to the vine, Jesus says, listen 580 00:28:09,359 --> 00:28:14,920 Speaker 2: to his voice. Remain in me and I in you, 581 00:28:15,720 --> 00:28:20,320 Speaker 2: and you will produce much fruit. And we want fruit 582 00:28:20,480 --> 00:28:25,240 Speaker 2: that remains. Jesus talks about that fruit that remains. We 583 00:28:25,280 --> 00:28:30,480 Speaker 2: want to have love that remains joy, that remains, patience, 584 00:28:31,000 --> 00:28:38,320 Speaker 2: that remains self control, that remains humility, meekness that remains joy, 585 00:28:38,680 --> 00:28:47,320 Speaker 2: that peace that remains, faithfulness that remains gentleness that remains goodness, 586 00:28:48,000 --> 00:28:53,640 Speaker 2: that remains fruit, doing good in the earth, that remains 587 00:28:53,680 --> 00:28:57,600 Speaker 2: where we're not growing weary and well doing because in 588 00:28:57,680 --> 00:29:01,040 Speaker 2: due season where we're reap if we faint not, we 589 00:29:01,080 --> 00:29:05,640 Speaker 2: want the desires of our heart. What we must delight 590 00:29:06,080 --> 00:29:10,240 Speaker 2: in Him first, all right, So study two Timothy two 591 00:29:10,280 --> 00:29:14,320 Speaker 2: fifteen I'm gonna close with this study, study, study, study, 592 00:29:14,440 --> 00:29:17,600 Speaker 2: to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needed 593 00:29:17,720 --> 00:29:21,640 Speaker 2: not be ashamed. Rightly dividing the Word of truth when 594 00:29:21,680 --> 00:29:24,200 Speaker 2: we are in the Word, when we are fighting for 595 00:29:24,240 --> 00:29:27,960 Speaker 2: that time. Guess what we can rightly divide the Word 596 00:29:27,960 --> 00:29:31,880 Speaker 2: of truth. We're not ashamed of the word. We are 597 00:29:31,920 --> 00:29:35,600 Speaker 2: approved of God. All of that. This is the word. 598 00:29:35,920 --> 00:29:41,560 Speaker 2: So study, study, study, study the word. Stay close to Him. Amen. 599 00:29:41,960 --> 00:29:44,080 Speaker 2: All right. So I'm going to go ahead and close 600 00:29:44,160 --> 00:29:46,160 Speaker 2: us out in prayer. Before I do, I want to 601 00:29:46,240 --> 00:29:47,920 Speaker 2: let you know about a free resource that I have 602 00:29:48,000 --> 00:29:52,520 Speaker 2: that's called the Lamp Refill Checklist. Okay, And I kind 603 00:29:52,560 --> 00:29:54,719 Speaker 2: of got this idea from the Parable of the Ten 604 00:29:54,840 --> 00:29:57,640 Speaker 2: Visions because I'm reading about that and just being ready 605 00:29:57,880 --> 00:30:00,040 Speaker 2: when Christ returns. You know, I always talk about that 606 00:30:00,120 --> 00:30:03,200 Speaker 2: being ready when Christ returns, and so check this out. 607 00:30:03,240 --> 00:30:04,920 Speaker 2: It's just going to help you to just stay on 608 00:30:04,960 --> 00:30:06,320 Speaker 2: fire for the Lord. It's going to help you to 609 00:30:06,400 --> 00:30:09,520 Speaker 2: keep your fire burning, to keep your lamp burning while 610 00:30:09,560 --> 00:30:13,000 Speaker 2: we wait on Jesus Christ to return. So it's basically 611 00:30:13,080 --> 00:30:15,440 Speaker 2: a little checklist. It's not legalistic. You'll see that I have. 612 00:30:15,440 --> 00:30:17,440 Speaker 2: They're written in there but this is just something to 613 00:30:17,480 --> 00:30:20,280 Speaker 2: just keep you close to the Lord, close to the vine. Amen. 614 00:30:20,560 --> 00:30:22,040 Speaker 2: All right, So let me close this out in prayer 615 00:30:22,600 --> 00:30:25,400 Speaker 2: and we'll head on out of here. Father God, in 616 00:30:25,440 --> 00:30:27,440 Speaker 2: the name of Jesus, Lord, I thank you for this, 617 00:30:27,520 --> 00:30:30,560 Speaker 2: dear listener. Lord, I pray Father that you will help her. 618 00:30:30,680 --> 00:30:32,320 Speaker 2: Or even if it's a man that's listened to this 619 00:30:32,400 --> 00:30:36,080 Speaker 2: right now, God, I pray Father, that they will no 620 00:30:36,120 --> 00:30:38,880 Speaker 2: longer struggle in reading your word. I pray Father that 621 00:30:38,920 --> 00:30:42,080 Speaker 2: they will be diligent God in reading your word, Father, 622 00:30:42,160 --> 00:30:44,080 Speaker 2: that they will fight for it, they will focus, Ord, 623 00:30:44,120 --> 00:30:46,640 Speaker 2: they will make time for you, even if that is 624 00:30:46,680 --> 00:30:49,360 Speaker 2: taken a personal retreat at home, or even if it's 625 00:30:49,400 --> 00:30:51,800 Speaker 2: just getting away to go into a different place where 626 00:30:51,840 --> 00:30:54,720 Speaker 2: they can just open up your Word and read or listen. Father, 627 00:30:54,800 --> 00:30:57,400 Speaker 2: even if it's on a long drive, God, that they 628 00:30:57,520 --> 00:30:59,640 Speaker 2: take even if it's going to sit by the lake 629 00:31:00,160 --> 00:31:04,040 Speaker 2: the park, or just locking up in their bathroom or 630 00:31:04,200 --> 00:31:06,400 Speaker 2: when they're taking a shower and they're just like listening 631 00:31:06,480 --> 00:31:09,000 Speaker 2: to the Word, just having it playing on the outside God, 632 00:31:09,040 --> 00:31:11,680 Speaker 2: so that they can get it inside of their hearts 633 00:31:12,080 --> 00:31:15,120 Speaker 2: and in their minds. God, I pray Father that they 634 00:31:15,200 --> 00:31:18,240 Speaker 2: will do that God, that they will study to show 635 00:31:18,280 --> 00:31:21,280 Speaker 2: themselves approved unto you, Oh God, that they will not 636 00:31:21,480 --> 00:31:24,800 Speaker 2: be ashamed God, and that they will rightly divide the 637 00:31:24,840 --> 00:31:27,840 Speaker 2: word of truth. Father, that they will delight themselves in You, 638 00:31:28,280 --> 00:31:30,800 Speaker 2: so that they will be able to receive the desires 639 00:31:30,840 --> 00:31:33,960 Speaker 2: of their hearts, Oh God, Lord. So I just thank 640 00:31:34,000 --> 00:31:37,040 Speaker 2: you Father for them. I thank you for taking the time, Father, 641 00:31:37,120 --> 00:31:39,440 Speaker 2: for them taking the time to listen to this episode. 642 00:31:39,560 --> 00:31:41,320 Speaker 2: And I pray Father that they will be ever so 643 00:31:41,320 --> 00:31:43,840 Speaker 2: strong in your word. They will not be deceived God, 644 00:31:44,120 --> 00:31:47,200 Speaker 2: and that Lord, they will God be able to stand 645 00:31:47,240 --> 00:31:50,880 Speaker 2: strong until the end until your son Jesus Christ returns God, 646 00:31:50,880 --> 00:31:53,960 Speaker 2: and that they will meeting you and have fruit that 647 00:31:54,000 --> 00:31:56,400 Speaker 2: they will bear. God. And so I thank you for 648 00:31:56,440 --> 00:32:00,320 Speaker 2: them in Jesus' mighty name. I pray all right, But 649 00:32:00,440 --> 00:32:03,400 Speaker 2: that's it for now until next time. Remember that Jesus 650 00:32:03,520 --> 00:32:06,040 Speaker 2: Christ is coming back soon, so let's be ready from 651 00:32:06,200 --> 00:32:07,320 Speaker 2: the inside out.