Despite Being Busy, Do This

George Mueller, after having read the Bible through 100 times with increasing delight, made this statement:

“I look upon it as a lost day when I have not had a good time over the Word of God. Friends often say, ‘I have so much to do, so many people to see, I cannot find time for Scripture study.’ Perhaps there are not many who have more to do than I. For more than half a century I have never known one day when I had not more business than I could get through. For 4 years I have had annually about 30,000 letters, and most of these have passed through my own hands. Then, as pastor of a church with 1,200 believers, great has been my care. Besides, I have had charge of five immense orphanages; also, at my publishing depot, the printing and circulating of millions of tracts, books, and Bibles; but I have always made it a rule never to begin work until I have had a good season with God and His Word. The blessing I have received has been wonderful.”

John Wesley encouraged daily Bible reading in a letter to John Trembath, August 17, 1760: “O Begin! Fix some part of every day for private exercises. . . . Whether you like it or no, read and pray daily. It is for your life; there is no other way: else you will be a trifler all your days. . . . Do justice to your own soul; give it time and means to grow. Do not starve yourself any longer.”

Dear Jesus, help me to eliminate the lesser things in my life.

Wisdom calls for a daily hearing: “Happy are those who listen to me, watching for me daily at my gates” (Prov. 8:34 NLT).