Finding Treasure and Wealth

I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden wealth of secret places, so that you may know that it is I, the LORD, the God of Israel, who calls you by your name. Isaiah 45:3

I love it when I am reading a portion of Scripture and suddenly see a truth I never saw before. For me, that is the treasure and hidden wealth of God's Word. Each morning as I open the Bible, I anticipate the gold nuggets He has planned for me to find. I will admit, it has not always been like this.

Not too long ago, a friend of mine expressed what so many people feel when approaching God's Word. She said when she reads it she gets nothing out of it. Her quiet time becomes a chore she simply crosses off her list when finished. I remember the feeling! I remember having those very thoughts.

There was no joy at the thought of opening Scripture. If my goal was to read a certain number of chapters I did so and closed my Bible an unchanged person. I tried study guides....they bored me. I tried schedules...they left me feeling like a failure when I fell behind. New Years’ resolutions to read through the Bile would last all of a couple weeks and I'd just give up. Then it would be months before I'd attempt to pick up my Bible again.

I lacked hunger, appreciation, and desire to read Scripture. I knew it was something I should do but didn't see any good that came of it. Something was wrong and I couldn't figure out what it was. But it all changed in the spring of 2004 when I sat in my kitchen with my Bible and simply asked God to show me His heart in Scripture. I wanted to really get to know Him and to see what He was really like in His Word.

Not sure what would happen, I began reading and within a few verses the "light" was coming on for me. Right before my eyes, Scripture was coming alive to me. I believe it was that very day I took a notebook and began to journal the truths that were making their way from His Word into my heart. My life has not been the same since. I am not the same person I was two years ago. I now have a half dozen notebooks full of my treasure hunts.

Father, You enjoy revealing Yourself in Scripture and I enjoy being the recipient. Thank you for helping me to finally experience this aspect of the Christian life. Amen.