Throw Back Thursday

Since I mention my quiet times regularly on this blog, I want to take time to share a few things. One, “quiet time” is what I call my time praying and reading the Bible each morning. This time also includes a simple journal method to record what I believe God is communicating to me through the Scriptures. Two, my method has been shaped and molded over these many years from very humble beginnings. Three, when I read journal entries from eighteen years ago, last year, and everything in-between, I witness how patient God has been with me. I have failed in my understanding of the Scriptures no doubt and yet, He consistently speaks to me. He is patient to flesh things out in my life as I walk with Him and He talks with me.

It is a fact of life that we will all fail at times as we seek to understand the Scriptures. It was written by the Almighty God after all and we are human. We will share something out of context, or we will misinterpret due to a cultural bias, or we misread a verse, etc. However, we cannot let our insecurities or fear of failure hold us back from searching the Scriptures and sharing what we know with others. If we do fail, let us learn from it, get back in the Word, and try again.

I would like to illustrate some of this by sharing with you a past quiet time from years ago; hence the title “Throw Back Thursday.” This particular quiet time journal entry was from July 18, 2005:

[Start]

Psalm 104:10 and 34

He sends the springs into the valleys
They flow among the hills
May my mediation be sweet to Him
I will be glad in the Lord

One interpretation would be that in my low and high parts of my life God is going to be there for me. He will fill my thirst and get me through. The other could be that I am a spring. He will send me places I want to go and maybe where I don’t want to go. But He will send me different places. My thoughts should be pleasing to God. He is the One who gives me joy.

Dear Lord,
Be with me this week. Let me be a spring used by You. Let my medication be sweet to You. Bring back (list of friends). Let this week be awesome. Speak to me please. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen

[End]

I thought everything was all about ME. In context, the springs in verse 10 are literal. The Psalmist is praising God as the Creator. He sees the splendor of God’s creation, such as springs of water, and gives God His due glory. He meditates on the works of the Lord in all of creation. Also, did anyone catch my request for my week to be awesome? I love looking back at these!

We can see how my focus was narrowly fixed on MY life and how I kind of ignored the passage as a whole or what the Psalmist was trying to communicate. Nevertheless, there are in fact other places in Scripture where God says He will make us springs of water (e.g., Isaiah 58:6-12) or that He gives us water (e.g., John 7:37). Also, there are places where Jesus says He will send us into the world (e.g., John 17:18). Lastly, we know from stories in the Scriptures and I can testify from my own life, God does send His people to places where they do and do not want to go.

So now we are full circle. Fourteen years ago, I wrote down what I believed God was saying to me. I was not correct in my interpretation of that specific Scripture; yet, God was beginning to reveal truth to me, which He would iron out in the years to come. I do not look back on these journal entries in defeat. Instead, I give praise to God in His faithfulness and patience to guide me in His truth.

I hope this encourages you to stay in the Word. Listen to the Holy Spirit. Share what you know. We need each other. Learn from your failures and try again!