Daily Bible Reading Challenge

Life has been moving fast lately but it is always nice to slow down for a little while each day with some time in God's word.

 Here are some of the treasures that I have found....

What caused me to worship God more?
"But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ." Ephesians 2:13

What an amazing gift! I am so thankful to have been brought near and no longer do I have this big separation between my God and Father and I. What a wonderful reason to worship!

What scripture touched me?
"Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God to seek from Him a safe journey for us, our little ones, and all our possessions. For I was ashamed to request from the king troops and horsemen to protect us from the enemy on the way, because we had said to the king, "The hand of our God is favorably disposed to all those who seek Him, but His power and His anger are against all those who forsake Him." So we fasted and sought our God concerning this matter, and He listened to our entreaty." 
Ezra 8:21-23

I just find it touching to see the humanity of Ezra in how he would have liked to ask the king to provide protection to them as they journeyed but felt embarrassed to do so as he had already told the king how God would protect them. That left him in the place where we should turn to in the first place but we often struggle with it just as Ezra did - that we completely put ourselves in God's hands and ask for His help. And He listened to them and helped them just as He does with us.

What scripture prompted me to Action?
"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them." Ephesians 2:10

I think this verse is so cool how it explains that we were created to do good works. God planned things before we were ever born to give us good and wonderful things to do. So often people are scared off from the whole idea of doing good works because there have been/are people who have the misconception that we do good works in order to be saved. Verse 9 of Ephesians 2 (just before this verse) explains clearly that it is not our good works that save us - we are saved through Christ's gift - but the verse above still clearly shows that we are to do good works. So what are you doing? How are you pleasing God in what you do? How are you helping others? What special gifts were you created with in order to do good works?

What fact did I read?
"And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Ephesians 1:22 & 23

Jesus Christ is the head of the church (not the Pope or any elected or appointed group of men). He is the one that we should listen to. It is His word we need to follow.

What blessings have your received from reading God's word lately?