“Can you relate?”
History books, AR books and more swirled around us. School had been in full swing and fighting to stay focused was a real thing. I loved seeing our children’s noses in all the schoolbooks, but I couldn’t help but wonder if they would offer the same determination with Bible reading. I decided to pitch an incentive to the first kid that completed my reading challenge. My kids jumped at my opportunity, often slithering by each other to peek at what page the other was on, assuming the only goal was completion.
The reading I chose focused on the fruits of the Spirit and prayer and this mama just knew her kids would soak it all in as their eyes darted from one page to the next. Right about the time I patted myself on the back for my creative approach, one daughter burst onto the scene with a “Boom suckers, I’m finished!” and the other yelled “noooo, I wanted to win, moooom that’s not fair! She went too fast!” Before I knew it, I had one boasting about her victory and the other bitter about her loss. My hand had moved from patting my back to smacking my forehead. Where were the fruits of the Spirit they just read about? Why wasn’t the message of kindness, goodness and self-control oozing out of them if they had just completed an entire book on it? Then I heard a whisper in my head, “Can you relate.....”
How often had I read God’s Word out of obligation or to check the box then carried on with my agenda for the day? Did I ever read with just my eyes and not my heart? It was easy to become frustrated when they didn’t pick up what I had put down, which had been to actually absorb God’s message while reading, but had I ever glossed over His Holy Word and missed the mark on allowing it to change my response or my attitude…especially when moments didn’t unfold as I expected? Insert guilty hand raise here.
That gentle nudge, the ‘can you relate’ moment, didn’t produce a feeling of defeat; it served as a reminder to talk with them about the heart connection. The best approach I ever learned about Bible reading wasn’t how much I read, how many reading plan boxes I checked or how quick I did it; it was how long His Word lingered in my thoughts and how to take time with Him, not the task. Trusting His Word and desiring His presence throughout my day kept me grounded and removed my expectations from the day.
Expressing my relatability to the kids on how easy it is to mindlessly check the box, do the deed, read the Bible and so on, brought a deeper message that reminded all of us to connect the heart, not just do the task.
If you can relate, circle around to sitting with The Lord before opening His Word. Ask Him to connect your eyes to the heart and allow His message to linger within you so that the fruit of the Spirit has the soil to grow.
Interested in a Bible reading this summer that focuses on Who He is and draws you into prayer first? Reach out to me for more information and find joy reading His Word.
