Day one of "Reading the Bible in 90 Days"

So, today was day one. You can join and read along with us, info is here. I read Genesis 1-16. I now am reminded why I have never read the Bible from front to back before. It is hard. This is not easy reading. It is difficult. As I sat her mulling over the fact that I found reading just those few pages mundane and difficult, I remembered hearing that it is said that anytime you read the Bible, even if you have no understanding, there will be reward and understanding to come. So, I went searching for that verse. I found the following article that really helped me. It is from here. So, I now feel better and much less discouraged about my commitment to this challenge. This is sewing a seed, which will grow. I will be better for it and my walk with God and understanding will also be greater.

God's Word Is A Seed

Most people expect God's Word to work like a stick of dynamite -- but God's Word is like a seed. We know because of what Jesus said.

LUKE 8:11 NKJ
11 "Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

The Holy Spirit, through Peter, also said God's Word is a seed.

1 PETER 1:23 NKJ
23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,

God's Word is alive. Just like a seed -- the Bible is full of unseen life.

JOHN 6:63 NKJ
63 "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.

Jesus said His words are alive. They contain life. The words in your Bible may look lifeless and powerless. Seeds do, too. But they are not without life or power.

In Mark 4:30-31, Jesus explained that the kingdom of God works like a seed. So, if we are to understand God's kingdom and how He operates, we need to understand seeds.

Seeds

* A seed is alive: it contains life.

Your physical senses are incapable of judging whether a seed is alive or not. You cannot see, feel, hear, smell, or taste the life in a seed. There is only one way to prove a seed is alive -- plant it.

* A seed does nothing until planted.

Seeds do not grow sitting in a sack on your shelf. They must be planted in the proper place.

If you desire the Word of God to produce in your life, you must decide to plant the Word in your heart and mind.

The best way to plant the seed of God's Word in your life is by speaking the Word. Hearing others speak the Word is good -- but will not produce as bountiful a harvest as speaking the Word yourself.

Speaking God's Word with your mouth is essential. As we speak God's Word we are planting the seed in our heart for the harvest of results we desire.

ROMANS 10:10 NKJ
10 For with the heart one believes to righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made to salvation.

Whatever you need to be saved or delivered from, confession (what you say) is essential.

* A seed is much smaller than the plant it produces.

The problem you face may seem huge. In comparison, a scripture may seem very small. But when planted, that Word will grow in you and overcome the problem.

* A seed always produces after its kind.

GALATIANS 6:7 NKJ
7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

Whatever you need, or desire, find scriptures relating to that. Then plant those scriptures inside you in abundance. Those seeds will grow up and produce a harvest of what you need or desire.

* A seed is powerful.

As a seed begins to grow, it will push up dirt, rocks, etc. Whatever the obstacles are, God's Word planted in your heart will push them out of the way.

* A seed begins its growth in secret (underground).

The only way to tell if a seed is growing is to dig it up, or wait for a plant to appear. If you dig up a seed, you may kill it.

* A seed takes time to produce.

No one expects a seed to produce a harvest the same day that seed is planted.

Sometimes the Word of God seems to spring up and bear fruit immediately. Yet, if we knew the details, we would understand that the fruit of the Word grew in that person's life over time.

* A seed is persistent.

A seed never gives up, but works day and night. Even when you are sleeping, the seed you have planted is working to grow and express itself in a fruitful harvest.

* A seed is not affected by other seeds.

Whatever happens to other seeds does not make any difference to a specific seed. Each seed sticks to its own task. One wheat seed planted in a corn field will still produce wheat. Seed does not become discouraged, or quit, even if other seeds die.

* A seed will stop growing without nourishment.

Planting a seed is not enough to assure a harvest. Seed must be protected and taken care of until harvest time. A seed which is dug up, or not watered, will not produce.

* More seeds planted produce a larger harvest.

2 CORINTHIANS 9:6 NKJ
6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.