DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT: Strategies for Growing in God #2

The noblest exercise of the mind within doors, and most befitting a person of quality, is study.
- - Sir William Ramsay
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2 Pet 3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever! Amen.

Yesterday we said that growing was fundamental to life! We should never ever stop searching for excellence. The same is true in our spiritual life... we should never come to a point of “not growing" or "not wanting to grow." Here is another Strategy I believe will facilitate our growing in God;

STRATEGY OF STUDY
Looking in God's Word for Direction… Let us find counsel and direction for our lives from the Word of God. Ps 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. God’s word contains the spiritual principles that will help us avoid many sorrows, pitfalls and tragedies, brought on by wrong decisions and choices; consequently, we must treasure it’s wisdom and steadfastly hold on to its precepts in all life’s situations.

Let us make it a priority of knowing God through the Word…
2 Tim 2:15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

Present yourself to God… as someone He approves of
A worker… who is not ashamed
Correctly understand… God’s word

In a study of the King James Version of the Bible someone gathered the following facts: "The Scriptures contain 3,586,489 letters, 773,692 words, 31,173 verses, and 1,189 chapters. The word 'and' occurs 1,855 times, but the word 'revered' only once. Ezra 7:21 contains all the letters of the alphabet except 'J.' The longest verse is Esther 8:9, and the shortest in the English language is John 11:35."

Knowing miscellaneous facts about the Bible is fine. But far better is the diligent searching of its truths for knowledge. If we study His Word we are approved and directed!

Loving Father, my desire is to grow in grace and knowledge of you. Help me to make the correct decisions for my life, according to your word. Strengthen me to study your word so that I will be approved of you and not be ashamed to correctly understand your word. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.