Reading because it's my duty

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
Joshua 1:8

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15


As much as I love my Lord there are times when I just don’t feel like reading his word. I don’t feel like reading for the love of reading and I don’t feel like reading for inspiration. His word just sometimes for whatever reason doesn’t captivate me like it should. However it’s those times that I have to remind myself that it is my duty, to do so. So just like those days when I don’t feel like going to work but I force myself because of duty so do I with the word of God. I’ve learned over the years that as I go against what I’m feeling in my mind and do what God expects from me anyway that I often come away feeling refreshed, renewed and inspired by something that he allowed me to see in his word.


I posted this poem before however, I thought it fit with this post although it's not actually about Bible reading.

Sometimes

Sometimes I enter your house Lord
And it’s not where I want to be
I don’t feel like lifting my hands
Or singing praises to your name

I don’t want to hear the preacher
Preach a message about God’s grace
I want the service to be over
So I can be on my way

But as I sit in the sanctuary
And I begin to meditate
I think about all you’ve done
And how you saved me by your grace

And as I think about you Lord
The tears begin to slowly fall
As the iciness within my heart
Begin to melt from your son’s warmth

So I slip my hand to heaven
And begin to praise your holy name
Because Lord I do realize
This you do require of me

You want me to praise you
When I feel like and when I don’t
To deny the natural man
And tune in to only you

As I tune into your frequency
You begin to speak to me
You let me know that you are pleased
With my sacrificial praise

By the time I leave the service
My attitude is totally changed
And I wonder within myself
“why didn’t I want to praise God’s name?