Read, Underline, Study, Apply

I am in the process of reading and underling important information in a 421 page book.  Because of so many important details, I have also added numerous brightly colored sticky tabs on pages I need to reference again.  In order to better understand the big picture and purpose of a specific diet, in hopes of helping improve symptoms of MS, the author highly recommends that one read the book completely through before beginning to apply the concepts.  I am rereading selections and continuing to study in order to achieve the maximum benefit.  After getting the go ahead from two doctors in the next few weeks, I am ready to practice what I have learned.  The more disciplined I am willing to be, the better chance I have for improvement.

I am also in the process of reading all 1094 pages in another book.  It has even more valuable life changing information in it.  The plan I am using has me read between 3 and 4 chapters a day, which gives me time to read, reflect on, and apply what I have read.  There are times I come back to passages, reread them for clarity and encouragement, and study them further, in hopes of applying them correctly.  It will take me a year to complete the process.  And then I’ll begin to read it again.  One of the gems about the Bible is that the author desires me to begin applying what is read as soon as possible.  I don’t have to wait until I understand it all or have read it completely to take action.  Whereas the book on nutrition has the potential to offer a better quality of life now if applied, the Bible assures me of an abundant life both now and for eternity.

Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

Joshua 1:8

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,

2 Timothy 3:16

 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

2 Timothy 2:15

Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.

Luke 24:45

The grass withers and the flowers fall,
    but the word of our God endures forever.”

Isaiah 40:8