Sarah's post yesterday has prompted me to ask today: what motivates you to study? Is it excitement, longing, duty, fear, love or something else? Or a combination of things? Once you do begin to study, how does it affect you emotionally? How do you feel when you are finished for the day?
I wish you all a great day in the kingdom!
6 comments:
I finished yesterday's lesson last night from bed. Didn't feel like getting up to blog about it. :) I'll let you know when I finish todays.
I apologize to everyone for neglecting my blogging...for a couple of reasons. First, our computer is on the fritz and even though I have Sky's laptop available to me, it's harder to make myself use someone else's computer that to just sit down at ours. Also, things are really stressful around here right now, and I've had a hard time motivating myself to be productive. I am mostly caught up with my reading, although I've had trouble making myself do it every day...as for my memorization of Romans, I'm ready to begin anew.
To answer Debbie's (and Sarah's) question about the motivation to read/study the Bible, I have had all kinds of reasons over the (50) years of my life...starting with coercion from my mother! So, uh, fear at the beginning, I guess. Sometimes I feel excited about studying a particular book that is a favorite or a book that I've never studied in-depth before. As I get older, the scriptures feel much more vital and important to me than they did when I was younger. I honestly WANT to gain wisdom to live my life closer to God, and I feel strongly that if I don't at least read it regularly, then I'm refusing to let Him speak to me...like I'm putting my hands over my ears. Anyway, I think if you make yourself fulfill the duty of studying while you're young(er), it becomes less of a chore and more enjoyable each year as you get older. (sometimes it's still difficult to make myself do it, but I definitely feel more urgency about it than I used to)...am I just rambling here?
Just realized I didn't post today - read Job 38-42. In the middle of working so I will try to post a longer note later.
Done for today.
So from what Mom and Ann have both said it sounds like studying becomes more exciting the older that you get. For me, many times it seems like something that I need to do so that I don't feel guilty. Wow! I feel guilty for even writing that out. I struggle a lot with guilt and many times this is just one more thing to add to my list of things to do to keep the guilt away. I have had times when I've enjoyed a certain study (like I'm really enjoying the Joshua study on Sunday am) but as far as daily reading goes, this is really hard for me to be excited over. I would love to look forward to getting my Bible out everyday like I look forward to reading a chapter in whatever novel I might be reading before I go to bed that night. I feel a certain envy when I hear people speak of their excitement in reading God's Word. I hope to get there one day.
Thanks for your input on the whole excitement over studying thing. I am (like Audrey) hoping some of it comes with age and repetition. I am done for today--my author today is stressing the importance of memorizing verses--my nemesis :) I am going to look through some verses over the next few days (her idea is to find some that apply to certain struggles you have and learn them well verses learning several poorly) and try to come up with one that I will actually memorize--I will probably have to make up a song to go with it (seems the ONLY way i can remember things) so feel sorry for my family as I risk injuring their ears over the next few days while I try to put words to some semblance of music :)
lol Sarah. I doubt you will injure any ears, but even if you do you will also place those words in their hearts too. Music is a powerful communicator!
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