Monday, November 5, 2007

10 Minutes A Day

Everybody knows that an apple a day keeps the doctor away. I have discovered another daily practice that is even more beneficial: 10 minutes of scripture reading a day. I have been going to church my whole life, but I have never read the bible all the way through. In fact, I have never even made it half way through. I guess I didn't think I needed to read the bible since I heard readings every Sunday. I still have quite a ways to go, but I am well on my way to completing something I should have done long ago. I already feel like I have learned a lot more about the bible than ever knew before just by reading. Ten minutes of prayer or scripture reading has been a blessing that sort of happend to me by accident.



I love my car and it works about 97% of the time, but that 3% of the time it won't start I have to wait 10 minutes before it will start. Don't ask me to explain that, but it's just the way it works. I have always been thankful to have a car, because I know that not everybody has one and it makes my life a lot easier, but the first couple of times I had trouble starting it I found myself a little frustrated. I found that it usually didn't matter that I was 10 minutes later to get started to wherever I was headed, but what if I had to be somewhere quick and it didn't start? This would be a big problem. I thought about what I could do to solve the problem. The answer I came up with has been one of the best decisions I have made.

I brought my bible to my car every morning and in the case that the car didn't start, I decided I would say a prayer and read scripture while I waited. I had nothing else to do for 10 minutes so I figured I might as well use my time wisely. What I have found is that I never really was in as big of a rush as I always thought I was. I always used to be in a hurry to get everywhere, but knowing that I might have to wait 10 minutes has made me get ready earlier and provided me time to pray when I used to think I didn't have time. I have since bought a second bible so I can keep one at home and keep one in my car at all times. I now see those 10 minutes when my car won't start as a blessing in disguise. It has brought me closer to God and relieved me from my stresses much more than it has caused me stress. God sure does work in mysterious ways!

2 comments:

David said...

Very inspirational. I love it when God speaks to us in ways that we never thought he would. I was reading reading the bible and praying every morning before work for a couple of months and it was great. Lately I have been having a hard time waking up in time to even get to work on time, so this is just what I needed to hear. I need to get back with it because it really does make the day so much better. Thanks!

Mike said...

That's great to hear. I know it can be really difficult to get up early so it is a sacrifice. Thanks for comments David!