Studying the Word

I want to be careful how I say this. I have always believed the old song "I met God in the morning, when my day was at its best . . ." (although I really do not "meet" Him then as He is always with us, right?). I still believe that song. For those of us who wake up at least halfway alert, starting our morning Bible reading right then is a great thing. But that does not always happen, right? Even with me in retirement now, it does not always work out that Bible reading is the first thing I do. And I want to confess that at times I have been more OCD about this than I care to admit, as though I secretly believe that God will not bless a day in which I do my Bible reading halfway through the morning or even in the evening. The point is to be with Him, not to get some sort of OCD formula going. We must study the Word because it is a commandment of our loving Lord, but also because it is how we get to know Him best. What I am finding is that Bible study adds up over time (of course it does). So lately, when I am witnessing, I will find myself reaching for an appropriate verse that maybe I have not memorized but I can pretty nearly quote from memory. The Holy Spirit does that. When the Word is internalized, He brings it back to our memory when we need it. The important encouragement here is to read the Word every day. Feed on it. If you have never started, there is no better time than now.