Hiding Contraband

HIDING CONTRABAND 

By:  Julie Souza Bradley Lilly

As I sit to write, there are 52 countries where possession of a Bible is illegal. Over the course of my lifetime, some countries have become more open while others are closing.

Reading the Word for me has become my routine—something I might foolishly take for granted, that many consider an extraordinary privilege.  I am confident that at this precise moment, somewhere in the world someone is praying for a Bible— praying to hold the literal Words of God within their hands.

Think about it.  Between the covers of this divine book lie the mysteries of God, paradigm-shifting truth, wisdom, comfort, peace and unparalleled counsel.

On a challenging day, we take for granted pulling it off of the shelf or googling verses of comfort.  But what would happen if suddenly all of that were taken away?  Like the appearance of a virus that suddenly changes the world as we know it, a day may come when freely opening the Bible becomes a thing of the past.  And we join the ranks of countless others who pray to rest their eyes on the Word of God.

Where might we hide the Word so it cannot be taken away? The Word offers counsel:

“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” – Psalm 119:11 NIV

This is not an attempt to coerce you into reading your Bible, beloved.  I am but a herald, bearing an invitation for intimacy with God, and the comfort of having the hidden Word rise up at the appointed time to give counsel.  We cannot be reminded of something later that never crossed our minds to begin with.

Father, we live in precarious times.  Great swings of the pendulum come in the blink of an eye.  It is not yet too late.  Stir up divine hunger and wisdom.  May we fill ourselves with the Word, treasure it in our hearts and allow it to change us, becoming the very essence of what holds us together.  Word of God, come alive.  Become part of who we are.  In Jesus’ Name ❤️

https://www.facebook.com/Prayers-of-a-Ragamuffin-Warrior-171515087035441/

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