Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You. Blessed are You, O Lord; Teach me Your statutes. With my lips I have told of All the ordinances of Your mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, as much as in all riches. I will meditate on Your precepts And regard Your ways. I shall delight in Your statutes; I shall not forget Your word. (Psalm 119:11-16, NASB)
The title of Psalm 119 is “Meditations and Prayers Relating to the Law of God.” The psalmist speaks of his delight in learning and obeying God’s commandments. It’s a glorious poem, and it leaves no doubt as to the author’s desire to walk in total harmony with the Lord.
In my own experience, I’ve found that the best way to find out God’s precepts and testimonies is to read His Word. And I also find that the more I read, the more I want to know.
I spend about three to four hours on my eye-gaze tablet nearly every afternoon. I look through email and check a couple of websites, but I spend most of my time doing Bible study. It’s been a real progression (or should I say REgression) from days past.
I used to do Bible study early in the morning before work. As my ALS progressed, it became difficult, then impossible to hold a book and turn its pages. At that point I began to read from my phone, using the YouVersion Bible app. There are many good apps available, but I found many great Bible studies there. When I could no longer manipulate my phone, I began to use the internet on my TV, and bible.com, the website tied to YouVersion. Later, I couldn’t work the TV remote control (oh no, a man without a remote!) so the next step was to have someone go to the website for me and play the audio for me. This was dissatisfying to me because I prefer to read at my own pace, and when I finished a chapter someone would have to come start the next one for me. When I received my tablet, I figured out how to log in to bible.com, and now I’m back to reading on my own. I’ll be able to keep this arrangement going as long as my eyeballs can move, and my eyelids can stay open!
I miss turning the pages in my Bible, highlighting and making notes. It’s a study Bible, and I miss reading all the footnotes. But, as the cactus says on the realtor.com commercial, when noting that he has no legs, “Ya work with what ya have.”
There’s a way to do Bible study. Sometimes it’s not the way you want to do it, but God’s Word is a blessing. In the armor of God, it’s the sword. I also find that the more I read, the more hope I find from God’s promises. And that’s something to stand on!
Worship: Thy Word, sung by Amy Grant