The dog woke me up. Too early for my alarm to have gone off, but not quite early enough that it was worth going back to bed. So I let him outside and settled on the couch in the quiet of an otherwise still asleep house and opened my Bible on my lap.

Outside the birds were singing with a confident enthusiasm I hadn’t heard in months. It made me smile to think of the coming spring… of newness of life and growth and a fresh beginning.

I read until Natalie came downstairs, her footsteps and sweet just-woke-up smile drawing my attention to the usual before-school tasks. As I stuck a bookmark in my Bible I realized it had been months since I’d sat and read that many chapters at one time.

It was my own fault; I make no excuses for myself. I’d allowed the day to day busyness to distract. I needed to be purposeful with my time and focus but I hadn’t. I’d become complacent about setting aside time in the Word.

And I missed it.

But in that moment I felt renewed, like the birds outside cheering for spring to come. Because, like spring, God’s Word brings newness of life and growth and a fresh beginning.

I long to be immersed in God’s Word again. To dig deeper. To learn and grow. I want to study a page I’ve read dozens of times before and realize something new that I hadn’t yet understood. I want to hunger and thirst for God’s voice so that I can’t bear to miss a day reading the words He gave to us. I want to fill my heart and mind with His Word so that I have an answer, a comfort, an anchor to secure my life upon.

Through the changing seasons of life, God’s Word remains unchanged. And in it is everything I need, for both the darkest and brightest of times. I don’t want to take it for granted. I don’t want to be complacent.

I want more time with my Bible open on my lap.

Revelation 21 speaks of the new heaven and new earth. I’ve read these verses before, as comfort in the midst of trials and loss, but today I read them with awe at the promise of the presence of God among His people.

And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new…” (Rev 21:3-5)

One day I will dwell with Him. One day He will make all things new. But until that day His Word is here and I will open it. I will read it. And I will pray that each time I do I see the opportunity for a fresh beginning, for growth, for newness of life. I will pray that His Word makes me new each day until, one day, He makes all things new.