Category: YouVersion App

Store Up God’s Word in Your Heart

On By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App3 Comments

When I was in college and dating my future husband, we got to know each other through letters. I know that hardly anyone writes letters these days, but Harry and I would write to each other at least twice a week. I looked forward to getting the letters from him, the news that told me what he was doing and how things were going for him on his navy ship. We also talked to each other several times a week, in an era when there were no cell phones and every long distance call had a cost attached to it. Why were we so dedicated to this communication? Because we wanted to know each other better.

That is why I cannot emphasize enough the importance of reading God’s Word and spending time talking to Him in prayer. God will always be a stranger to you if you don’t take the step to get to know Him. His Word is His love letter to us. Prayer is our long distance call to Him. Getting to know more about God and His character, His purpose for you and your life, the reason His sent Jesus…all are found between the pages of the Holy Bible. I hope that this is the year you become better acquainted with God. It doesn’t matter how many times I have read the Bible all the way through. Each time I read it again, I learn something new because His Spirit gives me new insight into God and His great love for me as well as into actions that I need to take to be the person He wants me to be. So, if you make resolutions, resolve to read the Bible daily. After all, it’s hard to love someone that you aren’t spending time getting to know.

Loving God’s Word

When we want to learn a new skill, we take care to learn everything we can about that subject.

Artists try different supplies and techniques to enhance their art. Musicians practice their music measure by measure, note by note, in order to memorize and perfect the song they are learning. Architects and engineers memorize and practice advanced math in order to design and build safe structures.

We give our time and minds to things so that we can use them well.

King David wanted to know God. He knew in order to know God, he would need to know God’s Word, because he knew that Scripture would keep him from sinning against God. He even wrote:

“I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways.”
Psalm 119:15 ESV

This is a valuable lesson for us to learn as well: if we want to know God, to know Jesus, then we need to know God’s Word.

Just as we give our minds to the study of history or math, or we practice an instrument in order to play it well, we must also give our minds and time to knowing God’s Word. We should meditate on Scripture and fix our eyes on what Jesus has taught us. When we do this, we store up His wonderful Word in our hearts and it keeps us from sinning against Him.

We can know exactly what God wants and desires for us by reading Scripture.

His Word gives us boundaries, guidance, and direction. His Word shows His purposes and character. His Word reveals to us who He is, and we get to respond with joy and obedience. So today, what will you give your time to? In what ways will you store up God’s Word in your heart?

Read and Do

On By vickleaIn YouVersion App1 Comment

Many of us read the Bible daily, but how many of us take the time to ask God to show us what He wants us to do after we read it? The Bible is an active and living Word that can change us from the inside out if we let it. The first step is to read, but don’t forget to ask God what the next step is…what do you need to do with what you have learned from your reading? There is so much meat in God’s Word, but sometimes I get so busy that I suck it down like it’s milk and move on. I want to take the time to chew slowly, savor what I have read and really let it nourish my spirit. We all need to spend time with God reading His Word, but when we leave our quiet place of reading, do we let His Word change us to be more like Him? Reading is fine…but doing is where the change takes place.

The Living Word of God

One of the biggest misconceptions about the Bible is that it’s just another book.

In fact, many Christians treat Scripture as if it’s just a collection of ancient letters and books that inform us about God and religious matters.

While the Bible is certainly a collection of ancient documents, it is also much more than that. It is the very word of God. The Bible is inspired by God, which means He spoke through humans to create these letters and books.

More than that though, God’s Word is living and active. The Holy Spirit uses the Bible to speak to us even today. This is what makes Scripture distinct from any other book.

James tells us in James 1:22-24 that the power of Scripture doesn’t just come by hearing it, but by living it out.

Scripture has the power to radically change the way we live, but we must take the effort to first read it, and then do what it says.

James says that anyone who reads Scripture and doesn’t follow God’s way is only deceiving themselves. We think we are following God simply by reading His Word, but God desires that we live out the truths of Scripture in our own life.

This is what it means to follow God’s way rather than our own.

Take a moment to consider a few ways you can begin to live out the truths in Scripture. Spend some time in prayer asking God to reveal to you an area of your life to transform by His Word. And then, resolve to not just hear God’s Word, but to do what He says as you follow after Him.

The Beginning

On By vickleaIn YouVersion App2 Comments

I hope that you will join me this year in reading your Bible daily. There are all sorts of different reading plans on the YouVersion App which is what I use. This year, I am reading from Eden to Eternity and another one called The Bible Project: One Story that Leads to Jesus. Whatever plan you choose, I hope that you get closer to God, because the Creator who made you in the beginning wants to have a relationship with you.

Happy New Year and Happy Bible Reading!

God as Your Creator

Have you ever paused to reflect on God as your Creator?
God is unlike any other that is, was, or will be. He alone is able to fully sustain that which He creates. And He alone is able to create—miraculously orchestrating His purposes—merely by speaking it into existence.
But there’s more…

If you dig even deeper into the pages of Scripture, you learn about power by which God creates:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Through him, all things were made; without him, nothing was made that has been made.
John 1:1-3

For in him, all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.
Colossians 1:16

The writer of Hebrews assures us that, “by faith, we understand that the universe was created by the word of God so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible” (Hebrews 11:3 NIV).
This “Word” is Jesus Christ, and through Him, God brought everything into existence. The ultimate redemption of all God’s promises will come through that same Word—Jesus Christ.

Reflect on that truth for a moment: The same power that spoke the universe into existence is the same power that will bring about the redemption of all things promised.

Today, take some time to reflect on God’s role as Creator, and allow it to fill you with great hope. Because He’s not just any creator; He’s your Creator, and He holds the very universe—and your life—in His hands.

Reflect on the Past, Trust in the Future

On By vickleaIn YouVersion AppLeave a comment

Looking Back, Looking Ahead

The author of Ecclesiastes spent a lot of time exploring the meaning of life. This “Teacher,” a king of Israel in Jerusalem (traditionally identified as King Solomon), tried it all in his quest for meaning—power and prestige, wealth and women. And, yet, still, he observed that generations come and generations go, but it all seems to be an endless cycle…

We work hard, but we eventually die.
We acquire things, but we eventually die.
We have families, but eventually we die.
Whether we spend our lives doing good or evil, we all eventually die.

But he goes on to say:

“Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.”
Ecclesiastes‬ ‭3‬:‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

When you gaze up at a star-filled sky, hold a newborn baby in your arms, or hike through a field of wildflowers, you are meant to be reminded of something greater—your Creator.

When you study what’s been recorded in human history or even process your own life, you get glimpses of the bigger picture—but you can still only see so much.

It’s not your job to know everything, but it is your job to trust God.

At the very end of the book, the Teacher shares his final thoughts: “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind” (Ecclesiastes‬ ‭12‬:‭13‬).

When you look back on this year, what was beautiful? Even if it was challenging or excruciating, what did God teach you through it?

Regardless of the past or what the future holds, you can trust that God is working—from beginning to end.

My Strength Forever

On By vickleaIn promises, Scripture, YouVersion App2 Comments

I say “Yes and Amen, Lord” to this scripture verse. It is one to hold on to when your body seems to be going the wrong way. I laughed the other day when my husband told me that once you turn seventy, your “check engine” light comes on and doesn’t go off. Funny analogy, right? I prefer to think that as I age, the pains remind me that I am closer to my eternal home where there will be no more pain, no more doctors’ visits and no more tears of frustration over yet another medical condition. We cannot hold on to this life, but we can hold on to God and His promises in His Word!

Trusting God through Pain

Have you ever experienced deep pain? Maybe you or someone you know received a painful diagnosis. Or perhaps you or someone you know is living with lifelong pain.

All of us experience pain, sickness, and suffering in our life. It’s part of our human experience because of the effects of sin on creation. Every single person will experience death, pain, and sickness.

However, in the midst of those things, God promises to be with us. The Psalmist gives us an incredible promise in Psalm 73:26. Even though our flesh and heart will fail, God promises to be our strength and portion forever.

That means God is working in our life to strengthen us. Scripture tells us that one day, God will make everything new (Revelation 21:5). The world will be like He intended it to be–free of pain, suffering, and death. God will restore all things.

So, while we experience pain and suffering in this life, we can have hope and look forward to the restoration of all things–especially the resurrection of our bodies. The God who created us from the inside out and knows everything about us will restore our bodies to perfection when we join Him in heaven.

Take a moment to reflect on the frailty of your earthly body. Give thanks to God for creating you and giving you life. Just like the Psalmist, ask Him to be your strength and your portion forever. Remember that He cares for you and loves you. Take hope that one day, He will restore all things, including our pain and suffering.

Serve Him by Serving Others

On By vickleaIn YouVersion App1 Comment

Honoring the Poor

How different would our world, communities, and homes look if we committed to helping the hurting around us?

The writer of Proverbs, typically considered to be King Solomon, penned these words:

“If you help the poor, you are lending to the Lord—and he will repay you!”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭19‬:‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

There are those who are financially or materialistically poor. Maybe they were born into a cycle of poverty, have hit hard times, or are physically or mentally sick. But there are also those—like Jesus mentioned in Matthew 5—who are poor in spirit.

Giving generously to those in need, caring for the vulnerable, and living an open-hearted life is the call of every believer.

Jesus echoed this theme in Matthew 25, explaining that good works like feeding the hungry, clothing the needy, showing hospitality to strangers, and visiting the sick or incarcerated will not go unnoticed. In fact, when we do such things, we’re actually serving Jesus (Matthew 25:40).

How wonderful would it be to end poverty, stop hunger, and witness the day when the world is entirely at peace? Eventually, Jesus will make all that is wrong right, once and for all. But until then, we get to keep serving Him and loving others every chance we get.

No one can do everything, but we all can do something.

Genuine followers of Jesus will be compelled by His Spirit to love the people He’s created. And if that’s not enough, we can believe Him when He says that He rewards those who seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).

John put it this way:

“If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?”
1 John‬ ‭3‬:‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

When we serve God’s people out of obedience, we’re serving Him!

Good News

On By vickleaIn YouVersion App1 Comment

When you get a raise or a promotion or a new baby arrives, you cannot wait to share the good news with everyone you know and even some strangers you may meet. The really good news that we should be sharing is the new life made possible because of the arrival of Jesus. On this Christmas Eve, take time to share the reason you are joyous and celebrating. Take time to tell others about your hope, your peace and your Savior!

Choose to Worship

On By vickleaIn YouVersion App4 Comments

Today I go to the surgeon for a consultation about surgery on my cervical spine. I confess that I am anxious, but I am choosing to worship God in spite of the anxiety because He is always worthy.

Update: I saw the surgeon and he recommended physical therapy, telling me that the surgery is definitely major surgery and not to be done quickly. So, I will call PT today and schedule an appointment. On the plus side, I can travel to see our family in MD for a couple of days before I have to start PT. And I see the surgeon again in two months for a re-evaluation. Getting old isn’t for sissies, but it is okay for those of us holding tightly to God’s hand. Thank you for your prayers.