Although I believed in Jesus at a young age, it wasn’t until I reached my forties that I began reading through the Bible each year. A pastor challenged the church with the sentence, “You don’t have time to read the Bible? How many novels have you read this past year? Magazines? Newspapers?” I took the challenge. After a while, I was surprised to realize I was finally following Jesus! My faith was no longer only a memory of a childish, though sincere, decision.
As I sat with my Study Bible, slowly and carefully reading my daily portion, I discovered connections between Genesis and John, found familiar names in Jesus’s genealogy, but most of all, I found a connection with God. He was speaking to me, teaching me, and providing help for each day.
This world we live in can be a tough place to navigate, and I don’t think it will get easier.
In Ephesians 6:10-18 we’re told to be strong in the Lord and His mighty power, to put on the full armor of God. Where do we find that spiritual armor? In His Word. Do we need it? Oh, yeah!
Hosea 6:3 says, “Let us know; let us press on to know the LORD; His going out is sure as the dawn; He will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth.”
When I read Hosea 6:3 one year of my daily Bible read-throughs, it struck me as if I’d never read it before. These were not only beautiful, poetic words, but I realized that pressing on to know the Lord had become my life goal, and daily Bible reading, a pleasant habit. Now I sense the times the Lord goes out before me, opening a way, and the days He comes bringing showers of refreshment.
Dear Father, thank you for giving us the Bible. It’s a precious gift. Thank you for Your gentle instruction, protection, encouragement, and love. You put it all there for us, Father. Give each of us a hunger to press on to know You even better. You are the Source of everything we need. Please hold us close this week. Give us words to bring glory to You.
In the name of your Son Jesus,
Amen
Inspired by the Bible story of Elijah raising the widow’s son from the dead, author Dana McNeely wondered what became of the boy. She began research for her novel, “Rain,” which tells the story of the three-and-a-half-year drought from his perspective. No stranger to drought, Dana lives in an Arizona oasis with her hubby the constant gardener, two good dogs, an antisocial cat, and migrating butterflies.
In 2021 RAIN became a finalist in The Christy Award (use the registered mark) and was also a finalist in the 2022 ACFW Carol Award® and was also a finalist in the 2022 ACFW Carol Award.
WHIRLWIND, the second novel in the “Whispers on the Wind” series, tells the story of a king’s downfall and a love that transcends war.
Sign up for Dana’s newsletter HERE to get book updates, garden exploits, butterfly effusions, and writerly fiascos.
