"O come with me to the Word of God! If this way of carrying it with you does not work for you, then find your own way. Whatever it costs, do not read it and leave it. It transforms us by its presence in our minds, not by staying on the bedside table" - John Piper
Piper wrote this in his book 'A Godward Life' pg 57. For me it is a great overarching call towards Bible study. In wisdom it's not a call to one particular way of study or reading, but an encouragement to find a way that you can dwell in for the rest of your days. A means of continually feeding from the Bible, and being transformed as the Spirit of God uses it in our lives.
When i am not walking worthy of my calling in Christ it is usually in direct parallel with a decline of time spent in the Word of God. I've watched others drift and upon enquiry found that the Bible is gathering dust from one Sunday to the next. I don't think, as Christians, we need to be overly brainy to understand and see this connection in our lives and in the life of others.
Praying
Oh Christ, pour your Spirit upon us that He may cause us both to desire and to do. To thirst for the words of life, to soak in them and to live under them. Cause us to kneel under the authority of Your Word and to continually dwell in its influence. While it is not the goal, it is the means by which You have chosen to lead us; towards sanctification, towards righteousness, but mostly towards Yourself.
Lead us Oh Lord . . .
