Grab It While You Can

During our annual month long beach trip this year we had more cold, stormy, and windy days than normal for this time of year. But the last two days were especially beautiful and sunny. The water finally cleared up so we could see sharks and rays in the water from our balcony. And, as I walked on the beach those days, I could see the shells that were in the water. When there were strong winds blowing, the waves were crashing harder, and, of course, the water was much murkier.

I’d not had many days of combing the shallow water for shells this trip, so, even though it was chilly, I waded in the waves on a treasure hunt. Mostly I watched the shore closely as the waves retreated to see what was there. If I saw a shell and missed it on the first retreat of the wave, I normally lost it forever.

If you read my blog very often, you know I have the category “beach lessons”. This is because I love how God speaks to me at the beach since I am quieter and more sensitive to these lessons there.

So, that day, I began to think about the importance of “grabbing” the truths of God’s Word on the first wave and not allowing those precious principles to slip away. It reminds me of the parables of the sower in Luke 4:4-15. In verses 11-12 Jesus says:

“This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. The seed along the path are those who have heard and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.“

The devil does NOT want us to latch on to God’s Word and live it out in our lives. He will do everything He can to keep us from reading it and from obeying it. So my challenge to us is to read it so we can know and apply His Word.

What does that look like for us?

• A daily time with the Lord in prayer and study of the Word
• Journaling what He says to us in the Word
• Remembering what you read. Focusing on it throughout the day.
• Memorizing a verse He highlights for us by writing (or typing) it and carrying it with us.

Perhaps you would like to do something my pastor encouraged us to do in our series on Real Life. Take a look at Sunday’s message Too Busy Not to Rest.

He taught us an acrostic for a daily 10-15 minute RESET. I’ve begun to try to make this a part of my day. (I’m not there yet!) We are to stop and think through the day and our lives and consider how we are doing. Here is what it looks like:

R: Relationships. Consider your relationships with God and with the people in your life.
E: Environment. Notice the things that God has made and praise Him for them.
S: Scripture. Meditate for a few minutes on a passage of Scripture that you read recently.
E: Emotions. Take stock of how you’re feeling mentally and physically.
T: Thankfulness. Express your gratitude to God for who He is and what He has given you.

Would you also take this challenge? Imagine if we refocus during the day on what God is teaching us. We grab that shell in the wave and hold on tight to it. Will it change our attitudes and actions toward those we live with? Those we work alongside? Those we serve in ministry with?

Don’t let the enemy snatch those nuggets of truth from your heart before they have time to take hold and bear fruit. Grab it while you can. Hold on to it, believe it and live it out.

Banner photo by Thomas Griesbeck on Unsplash