Finding Time For Truth

(Note: The hi-lited passages provide links to the Scripture or sites referenced)

I've said before and I will say it again, because I have to discover it the hard way every time - almost every MONTH - the ONLY way to "survive" daily life - whatever you are facing- is to STAY IN THE WORD. All day long we hear lies about who we "are" and are not and what we can and cannot do. The only way to know the lies from the Truth is to stay in the Word and let it be in our minds at all times. This is the only way to take those false thoughts captive and make them obedient to Christ (2 Cor 10:5). Otherwise, we are overcome by the world and we become "slaves to fear."
In Romans 8:14-16, we are told that "...those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children."
Satan tells you that you are not good enough, not strong enough, not victorious, not beloved. But this is NOT what God says and you NEED to know EXACTLY what He says about you in his new covenant with you through Christ so that you can stand firm!
The biggest problem we face in learning the Truth from the Word is, at least for me, finding TIME for the word. I can barely find time to wash my own face before I crash in my bed at night much less stay in the Word! Even before I was a single mom, I could hardly find time to spend in God's Word. Now, of course, finding that time is even more difficult than ever. But Romans 10:17 tells us "...faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ." We need to HEAR the message, over and over and over, through His Word so that our faith might be increased daily. Then, when those "flaming arrows" from the enemy come at us, we can confidently and boldly hold up our "shield of faith" (Eph 6:16) - our faith which has come by "hearing the message through the word of Christ".
So how do we find the time? I don't have a perfect answer and still struggle with this daily but I can only share some "strategies", if you want to call them that, for what has worked for me in the past:
First of all, every time you get into your car you can either spend that time praying out loud with your children or listening to Christian music together. You don't have time or excess energy to fill your head with any of the other junk on the radio, so you have to be discerning about what you listen to and what you "allow in". Some good CDs that we listen to are the "Word of God Speak" CDs - these are all songs that are straight Scripture, put to music. There are also tons of good Scripture CDS specifically for children but adult-friendly too!
When by yourself in the car, just make a "rule" with yourself to keep your radio set on a Christian station and either listen to Christian music or to Christian speakers - you can find Beth Moore, Joyce Meyer, Alistair Begg, Kay Arthur, Joel Osteen, James Dobson, and many other anointed speakers to listen to on Christian radio. Whenever I listen to these stations, even if only for 10 minutes of the sermon, the Lord always uses what I hear from these speakers to bless my day.
One of the BEST things I ever did was invest in a set of CDs called "The Word Becomes Flesh" by "Mercy Ministries" - These are a collection CDs of women reading the New Testament out loud and it is set with music and commentary. I like to play these on my stereo when I am at home and cleaning the house, washing dishes, folding laundry, etc. I also, if I am in a rough patch, will play it at night next to my bed on a portable CD player while I am just lying in bed with all the lights out - sometimes you feel like you don't have the energy to even pick up your Bible and try to read it with your tired eyes but can you honestly say you don't have the energy to LIE in your BED and LISTEN to the Bible without lifting a finger?? Give it a try!
There are times, too, when all I want to do after having a full day at work and finally getting the kids to bed, is just to sit on the sofa and watch TV. Here again you have a choice of what to fill your mind with. Now I know that TBN and the "Inspiration" network get a bad rap but there are actually some REALLY good speakers who come on now- I've gotten in the habit of watching Joyce Meyer's "Enjoying Everyday Life" Program which comes on at night and also Michael Youssef''s "Leading the Way" program. These are both awesome. You can either spend that time watching whatever mindless, truth-less program you shut your brain off to that will leave you feeling just as empty as you felt before you turned the TV on OR you can watch a program that will FILL you back up - give you Truth, life and light.
You can order sermons on tape from your favorite speakers to play in your home and in your car. You can download Christian music and "podcasts" to your ipod to listen to on the go or while on a walk - You can watch your favorite speakers on "youtube" or on their websites instead of looking at all the other "junk food" on the internet - there really is no excuse - you CAN find time for the Word and, really, you HAVE TO if you want to keep your head above the water. I encourage you, if you think you "don't have time" for the Word, to really take this before God, ask Him to show you when and where you DO have time and what are some ways you can "think outside of the box" to get the Word in your day.

Lord, I am spent and drained and the ONLY way I can be renewed, refilled, and restored is by the living water of your Word. I want to be like the "well-watered garden...like a spring whose waters never fail" "strengthened...in a sun-scorched land" (Isaiah 58:11) - and the only way to do this is by staying in Your Word - Lord, your Word is Spirit and it is Life (John 6:63). Lord, I pray that you would give me an insatiable hunger for your Word. Lord, please show me where, during my day, I can spend time listening to Your Word and please give me new, creative ideas for how to do this. Lord, please guide me to CDs, DVDs, Christian radio, wherever I can find more of You and your Truth. Remind me Lord to turn on my radio to life-giving stations, to turn the TV station to something fulfilling instead of junk. I ask you to pursue me Lord and call to me, reminding me to run back to you and to Your Word. May Your Word be the only lamp to lead me and guide me always (Ps 119:105). In Jesus' name, Amen!