Long Full Lives

ByJim Stephens

Long Full Lives

Reading: Exodus 23-24; Psalm 14; Acts 5 25 “You must serve only the Lord your God. If you do, I will bless you with food and water, and I will protect you from illness. 26 There will be no miscarriages or infertility in your land, and I will give you long, full lives. (Exodus 23:25-26 NLT) I started using a Through The Bible In A Year reading plan in 1980. In the years since then, that’s a lot of chapters and verses! My reading plan and the translation I use changes from time to time, but the ground covered remains the same. I’m reading God’s Story, but at the same time I’m reading to find where my little story fits into God’s Big Story! I read in the context of my responsibilities and tasks, my successes and failures, my family and my friends, my faith and my fears. I read for spiritual nourishment and for soul-health. I read to hear a present word from God for my “right-now” life! Over the years, verses or short passages have been “quickened” to me by God’s Spirit as I read and pray about my life and my needs. When that happens, I grab what God gives me. I’ve collected my “Verses for Daily Reading” in a document that I keep handy and I update the list each time God gives me a new scripture to add. At this point, there are thirty verses or short passages on my “Verses for Daily Reading” list. Some have been on the list for years. One is new this past year. I didn’t so much choose them as they chose me. I read them every day because they are like vitamins to keep my soul healthy. I read them every day because they remind me of how God spoke to me a word of faith for my fear and a word of direction for my confusion. I can’t wait to see what God adds next! Look at today’s verses from Exodus 23. I needed these words for my own life years ago and oceans away, when God gave them to me in Jamaica in the mid-80’s. Today, with God’s permission, I give them to you.

Prayer: Father, Thank you for my “Verses for Daily Reading” and for your Daily-Speaking Voice. I believe someone who reads this needs to hear this word from your heart today. I partner with you in giving them the gift of a word of faith for their fears, a word of assurance for their doubts, and a word of hope for their heart. In Jesus’ Name!

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