What steps can we take to prioritize Scripture in our daily decision-making? A Lost Scroll, a Fresh Priority “Then Shaphan took the book to the king and reported, ‘Your servants are doing everything that has been placed in their hands.’” (2 Chronicles 34:16) Josiah’s story reminds us that revival begins the moment God’s Word moves from storage to center stage. When Scripture is recovered, decisions change, hearts soften, and an entire nation can pivot toward obedience. The same dynamic is available to us today. Step 1: Seek the Book Deliberately • Schedule unhurried time with the Word each day—before phones, headlines, or agendas. • Follow a clear reading plan so no portion of Scripture is ignored. • Pray, “Open my eyes that I may see wondrous things out of Your law” (Psalm 119:18). Key verses • Joshua 1:8: “This Book of the Law must not depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night…” • Psalm 119:105: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Step 2: Bring Scripture into Every Decision • Pause before choices—big or small—and ask, “What has God already said about this?” • Keep a short list of go-to passages on finances, relationships, integrity, speech, and purity; revisit them when related decisions arise. • Let Scripture, not emotion, set the boundaries. Key verses • Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart… in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” • 2 Timothy 3:16-17: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness…” Step 3: Act Promptly on What You Read • Josiah tore his clothes the moment he heard the Law (2 Chronicles 34:19); delay would have dulled conviction. • Translate a verse into a same-day action: apologize, give, forgive, change plans. • Small obediences today prepare you for larger obediences tomorrow. Key verse • James 1:22: “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” Step 4: Surround Yourself with Word-Centered Voices • Discuss the day’s reading at the dinner table or during commutes. • Join a study group that opens Bibles more than opinions. • Choose music, podcasts, and books that echo Scripture’s themes. Key verse • Colossians 3:16: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom…” Step 5: Store and Review God’s Counsel • Memorize pivotal verses; use flashcards or apps. • Keep a journal of how specific passages guided real decisions; reread it during future crossroads. • Celebrate answered guidance—this builds faith for the next decision. Key verse • Psalm 119:11: “I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.” Living Out the Josiah Pattern 1. Rediscover the Book daily. 2. Relay its message into every corner of life. 3. Respond immediately and wholeheartedly. When Scripture holds that place in our routines, decisions cease to be guesswork. They become deliberate acts of partnership with the God whose Word never fails. |
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