“Jesus answered, ‘It is written: man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the the mouth of God'” (Matthew 4:4).

We all know we should read God’s word on a daily basis. We all know that one of the only ways we grow in our faith is by reading and studying God’s word daily.

As with many things, the problem is not that we don’t know these things. The problem is that it’s sometime really dry and boring. It’s difficult.

If you’ve been there before, you are not alone.

The Bible is a collection of many different kinds of writings. Some of it is prose, some narrative. Some are poetry, and some are parables. Even though the Bible is a collection of different kinds of writings from multiple human authors, every single passage of the Bible share one common reality: Every single passage of the Bible is talking about God.

Alistair Begg says, “God is the hero of the story and the theme of the book, and so the first question we ask of every passage ought to be this: what does this tell me of God?”

There are multiple plans that will help you read and study the Bible online. I have referred you multiple times to http://www.bible.com. There are fantastic resources to help you keep track of your daily reading.

As you are going through your daily readings, the question you should be asking is, “What is God trying to teach me about who he is through this text?”

Try it. Read the Bible through that lens.

I keep a daily journal of my prayers and readings. Journaling helps me process what I am reading. I encourage you to try it.

The main thing is that you keep at it.

We do not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.

“And when you pray….But when you pray….And when you pray….” (Matthew 6:5, 6, 7).

Three verses in a row, Jesus tells his followers, “When you pray.”

Notice Jesus didn’t say “If” you pray. Prayer for disciples is assumed. If you are a disciple, you are one who prays.

These verses in Matthew introduce the Lord’s Prayer.

When we pray we typically pray by listing a laundry list of stuff we want God to do for us. That’s okay. God wants to know what is on our hearts. He invites us to pray always and to pray for all things.

However, where we get into trouble is that we confuse praying to God about all things with God answering all our prayers.

If God were to answer all our prayers in the way we wanted them to be answered, who is God? What is God? If praying meant that God has to answer our prayers in the way we want them answered, we are god. Our will rules. That’s absurd!

R. C. Sproul says, “The real prayer of faith is the prayer that trusts God no matter whether the answer is yes or no.”

When R. C. Sproul talks about prayer here, “prayer” has two reference points:

• It can mean one who prays, pray-er
• It can mean the words we utter in prayer

Either way, the prayer of faith trusts God wants to hear what is on hearts, and trusts that God’s will is best.

So, pray. Let God know what’s on your heart. Pray for all things. If you’re thinking about it, pray about it.

And, as you pray, trust God. Trust that God knows best and God wants what is best for you.

If you are a disciple, you pray!

“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who wait in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:29-31).

Depleted….tired….weary….beaten down….spent….exhausted….

God’s word promises that “those who wait in the LORD renew their strength.”

In the NIV, our text reads, “those who hope in the LORD renew their strength.” I am not sure why the NIV translates the word “wait” with “hope”. The Hebrew is wait.

I don’t know about you but I could use some renewal. I long for God’s strength.

God tells us that the pathway to God’s renewal and strength is to wait in the LORD. So, what does it mean to wait in the LORD? What am I doing if I am waiting on the LORD?

Those who are waiting on the LORD are those who are intentional about seeking the LORD and his presence through prayer and his word. Waiting in the LORD doesn’t mean sitting idly. Those who wait in the LORD seek his presence. We enter into the presence of God through prayer and through God’s word.

• Where is strength and renewal to be found? In the LORD.
• How do we find strength and renewal in the LORD? By seeking his presence through prayer and his word.

When we seek the LORD and his presence through prayer and God’s word, it reorients our perspective from the problems in our world, to God. And, when we see God we are reminded of who God is so that we can remember who we are as God’s beloved. It is this reorientation, reminder, and remembrance that gives us his strength and renewal.

Tired? Weary? Depleted? Down and out?

Wait in the LORD. Seek him in prayer. Meditate on God’s word.