The sun greeted me in a smoke-filled haze of mellow orange as I stepped outside with my four-legged walking partner. Even with smokey air, I felt anticipation for my daily respite.⁠
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We walked past a half-built fence and a field of dry grass where two birders focused through camera lenses made for Thor. Finally, we reached “the hill” where I had the familiar thought, “Do I really want to climb this?”⁠
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This hill stretches my lungs to their limit. Since surgeons removed part of my lungs three years ago, climbing hills is no easy feat.⁠
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No one makes me climb that hill, so why bother?⁠
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Because the hard task of climbing is good for me. Regularly huffing and puffing my way up that incline won’t heal my lungs but it will keep them healthy by stretching them to their fullest capacity, filling little alveoli air sacs with oxygen.⁠
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I intentionally choose the challenge of climbing because I trust that it is good for me and I desire the results. Most days, I don’t look forward to the challenge but I love the “I’m alive!” feeling I get after the climb.⁠
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I feel the same way about reading God’s Word. Tempting thoughts come every day as I sit down to read and I must shove them aside and choose the challenge of focusing, reading, and listening. My reward is the feeling of intimacy with God I get during those times. I never regret the effort.⁠
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The choice to read God’s Word is a choice to believe that it is worth the effort. It is holding to a secure hope that it will grow your faith and ground you in truth.⁠
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Charles Spurgeon said, “A Bible that’s falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn’t.” We face challenges every day, challenges that require a deep faith in and understanding of who God is in order to 'not fall apart'. We cannot grow deep roots of faith without regular time spent in God’s Word.⁠
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As the fall season arrives, now is a good time to start or re-start a daily habit of reading God’s Word. Take the challenge! It’s worth it.⁠

*This devotion was originally published here at Joyful Life Magazine.

ENCOURAGEMENT FOR YOU

Life with rare disease is hard. Living it with friends makes it easier. I’d love to be your encourager as you endure this rare disease life. Let me start by sending you a list of 12 Verses to Help You Endure. I’d love to send it to you now.