Delores Liesner
Activating Faith in everyday life
Reading Between the Lines
My Aunt Angie explained how Uncle Tony sent her messages during war-time, and how she was motivated to read “between the lines,” to look in secret places (like under the postage stamp), and to understand and savor things that other readers did not see.
That prompted me to consider if I read, savored, and searched my letters from God in such a consistent and detailed manner.
How do I read God’s Word?
Like a newspaper?
Like a billboard ad?
Like a love letter?
Like a history story?
Like a call to action?
Like a cookbook?
Like a foreign language to interpret?
Like an instruction manual?
Like a treasure map with clues?
Like a living and active supernatural living Word?
Although I’ve read my Bible every one of those ways, my favorite way to Read (look at, comprehend the meaning of, pore over, be absorbed in, interpret, understand) is wearing my spiritual ‘headset,’ and listen to God.
Listening to God
“Anyone who belongs to God listens gladly to the words of God.” – John 8:47 NLT
When we listen with intention we ask God to make us gladly willing to hear and obey what His words say.
We read with the intention to find what will make us more Christ-like, and to make an accountable plan to fulfill that application
Application is desiring change
When we listen we observe:
- What was the situation for the people this passage was written to?
- What can I learn from their response (or lack of it)?
- What new thing did I read about God-Father-Son-Spirit, or other thing or person?
- Did I read anything I should stop doing or start doing?
- Was there a go or a do – a specific charge/command to go or do or be something?
- How can I let God’s word activate in me what I read and learned?
I don’t know about you, but I often tend to list for God what I cannot do, and honestly, I think he’s been waiting to hear it J, so he can laugh, and say, “I know.”
Activating Faith –is my call (charge to go and do or be)
Every go includes a do (an act of obedience)
And
Every do has a promise of provision
What did you read yesterday?
What did you hear yesterday?
Were you challenged to follow a command or did you learn something new?
3 Comments on “Reading Between the Lines”
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Be the Miracle! – with journaling pages
Delores Liesner: Author
American Christian Fiction Writers Association
Delores Liesner 
Wow, great analogy, thought-provoking post!
Thank you.
Blessings~
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Thanks Robbye! My Auntie has been such an oasis in a stormy life. I appreciate your encouragement too. 🙂 D
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Delores, it’s nice you have someone to be an oasis!
You are very welcome!
Blessings~
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