Satan dealt me a whopping one-two punch at the beginning of this session of Bible in 90 Days and I owe every single reader out there an equally whopping apology.
You see, not soon after we started reading, I started to doubt myself. I started to wonder what in the world I was doing trying to encourage more than 1,200 people to read the entire Bible in 90 Days. Never mind the fact that I had already facilitated six groups in person, trained others to lead groups in person and this was my fourth online session. I still felt unworthy. I still felt lost. I still felt overwhelmed trying to figure out how to keep 69 groups on track and not have anyone get mad at me.
And then I became afraid to be me. With every post and every email I worried what each of you might think. And I lost sight of the Amy whom God invited into this partnership in the very beginning.
He asked me, a sinner, a mistake-maker, a lover of people and lover of life to blog through the Bible in 90 days and share… and so I did. I thought maybe 20 people would join me as I shared the Bible in 90 Days ministry the first time. Well, it has been more than 20… Thousands of lives on several continents have been changed as a result of this online part of the ministry.
And still, I doubted this time. I was scared. I let Satan magnify tiny comments and have my ear and paralyze me when I should have been listening to God’s encouragement.
Oh, Father, I am so sorry. I shouldn’t have listened to those who doubted me and broke me. I should only have listened to you and your sweet words of love. Please forgive me.
Friends, I have not been the best encourager because I have been listening to the wrong voices. Satan is cunning. He knows just where to zing me. Just as he knows right where to zing you.
“Life is too busy. I simply cannot find the time to read that much of the Bible.”
Really? What can be more important than carrying out this promise to read the entire Bible?
“Things will slow down when… And then I can do this.”
Really? Does life ever really slow down?
“I don’t need to finish with everyone else. I’ll finish on my own.”
Really? How has that worked for you in the past?
“I’m just not feeling anything or hearing God as I read.”
Really? Isaiah 55:11 ” It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.” -New Living Translation
Friends, we have less than 20 days until we hit the finish line.
I have come to realize that Satan has been holding me back. And I don’t want him to do the same for you.
It’s up to you whether you finish or not. I have given you the plan. I have done my best to recruit amazing volunteers who have been praying for you. (Even if you haven’t heard much from your mentor I have no doubt she has been praying for you.) I have tried to encourage you as best I can. But there is only so much I can do.
Your success at this goal is completely up to you. Each of you CAN do this. Do you want to? Is it worth it to you to push through and read the entire Bible this time? Or would you rather listen to Satan’s lies a little longer?
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