Between the prayer closet and the door...

The last question for Chapter 9 of  "The Story"--"What steps can you take to become a more selfless, loving person?" got me thinking.  Of course the usual answers came to mind; ask the Holy Spirit's help, make the choice to love and prefer others...But something has been nagging at me since yesterday.  A verse I read just keeps replaying, needling away in my thoughts.  Mark 4:24  Then He said to them, "Take heed what you hear.  With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given."

Something about these 2 separate pieces fit together for me (and isn't that just what You do Lord?).  When I hear or read a Scripture (and perhaps more out loud reading is in order for the Scriptures tell us that faith comes by hearing), how much time am I devoting to letting that Scripture settle in before moving on the next thing on my checklist for "God time"?

Now, I know sometimes I pull apart Scripture, as in my "31 Days of Praise" study. And that is good.  But even them I am writing or "doing".  Other times I just speed through, giving no time to, ugh, meditation or double ugh, listening quietly.  Maybe this is one of the reasons my follow through falls so short and my lessons from the Lord are so easily forgotten amid the hurry and busy of the day.  I get great teaching, write it all out, rejoice and then close the note book, going on my merry way.  No time to sit and let it sink in.  Too much to do, I'll think about it while I am working through my to do list!!  Too busy to take the time to let it find it's home in my heart.  Of course mulling over the things God shows me as I go about my day is a great idea.  But if I don't take time to let it settle in before hand, the business of the day and the distractions of the enemy easily snatch it from my mind and heart. Perhaps this is the root cause of my struggle to put into practice the things my Father teaches.

It is very hard for me to just sit.  I want to be writing, typing, thinking, doing. Sitting quietly makes me want to jump out of my skin!!  But I think it is something I desperately need.  How long do I sit?  I don't know.  Long enough to let the Holy Spirit knit the teaching and Word into my soul.  However long that is.

Jesus taught that the seeds of His Word can be choked out by the cares of this world or snatched away by Satan.  If the Word does not have time to take root in my heart, I easily stumble and fall when tribulation comes.  This God visit has shown me that this is what happens to me when I don't take the time to sit and let the Word have its work in my heart.  The Holy Spirit needs time to let the planted seed take root.

One of the things I've been crying out for is more of God.  And this verse promises more will be given when I take care to hear.  It's time for me to take time.  To take heed.  Lord, I don't want to lose my seed, and lose my follow through between my prayer closet and the door.  I want Your Word to bear fruit in my life.  It's amazing how you have fit all these things together this week.  As usual,  You are an amazing God.  Thank You.