“And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life; he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.” John 6:35
Today’s Christian daily devotional
I must admit that I don’t really have any special talents or abilities that I flourish in. For as long as I can remember, I’ve always felt like the black sheep that insisted on running clumsily against the wind.
I excelled in school, but every good grade came with a concerted effort. Today, they have a word for my learning disability: dyslexia. Who knew that millions of people suffered from this ‘flipped’ way of thinking? Growing up, I was under the assumption that I was the only one. So many people had no issues reminding me that I wasn’t ‘normal’.
Unfortunately, sports weren’t my forte’, either. I’ll never forget when my friend Victoria tried convincing me that because of my small size, I would make a great cheerleader. She ignored my senseless banter about my lack of rhythm and insisted that I try out, anyway.
“Really? How bad can it be, Jules?” Victoria rolled her eyes, assuming I was just being my dramatic self.
Unfortunately, she failed to take into account that cheerleading actually required skills…and it wasn’t just applying eyeliner.
After a rendition that resembled Richard Simmons in sweating to the oldies more than the actual routine given, my cheerleading career was over before it began.
Humiliated, I swept my high ponytail down into a lower style. It was a poetic reflection of where my self esteem began to hover.
Disheartened and discouraged, I also became determined. I set out on a mission for discovering ‘safer’ hobbies, one’s that came natural for me.
This is when I found my true passion—reading!
What a wonderful thing a book is. Words on paper had the magical ability to not only transport me into another dimension, but to teach me about places I have never been to and even expose me to things I have never done! Of course, my favorite part about it all was: It’s nearly impossible to get hurt or humiliate yourself while reading a book! Try it.
As I ruminate and remince about how I first fell in love with reading, I am sprawled on the floor of my library, organizing my ‘babies’.
Running my fingers across their precious spines, some hardback, some paperback, I breathe in the musky air of their yellowed edges. I don’t just read books…I devour them.
It is a new year and I’m not only looking to re-organize, but also to be re-inspired.
“Which book do I need, Lord?” I whisper a quick prayer while I scan the titles.
My eyes stop on the leather bound beauty with gold edges; The Bible.
“Oh, of course God would want me to read that. But I need some advice that is relevant for today.” I laugh at the chances of coming across that book.
“I am the bread of life; he that cometh to me shall never hunger.” It was as if the words popped through the Bible into my head. Turning the heavy book with the gold-trimmed edges, I felt my heart sink.
God’s word should always be my sustience. Every other book (even a spiritual one) could only be considered a supplement…perhaps an appetizer. God’s word is in a class of it’s own.
If one desires true wisdom and revelation, wouldn’t it be better to get it straight from God’s source?
This got me thinking. Is this why the state of the Christian church is so weak? So many people are looking for that next ‘best seller’ to give them the keys to wisdom, yet ignore the open treasure chest of God’s word?
Is the very source of your healing and spiritual revelations hidden in plain sight? Is the Bible up on some dusty shelf, just there to impress grandma if she happens to stop by?
Are you searching for answers from every other source than the one that promises to feed that ache in your soul?
“Dear Heavenly Father,
My heart is heavy. I feel like I have been saying that I believe in you with my mouth; but when it comes to actually searching for answers in your word, it’s actually the last place I go.
I don’t hesitate to call my friends, ask advice from strangers or even research a topic online, but I hardly think of the Bible as a place to receive the kind of wisdom that I need for today.
Lord, even though this world is very different from the days of the Bible, the fact of the matter is, human beings since the beginning of time have always had the same basic needs.
I only complicate things for myself when I don’t go to the source of true healing.
Lord, I won’t talk myself out of reading your word or receiving your wisdom anymore.
Today, I commit to finding a version of the Bible that is easy for me to read and gets me excited about the things of God.
I won’t go for the advice of other men before I search your heart in prayer and read your word. You are all that I need.
In Jesus’ precious name, feed me Lord. I am hungry for you. Amen.”
Thank you for reading today’s Christian daily devotional on verse: John 6:35
Please check back and see what we have for you tomorrow!
Author: Julia Shalom Jordan