In case you were wondering, I’m up to the book of Ezra in my quest to read through the Bible in The Voice translation.

This year I decided not to follow any Bible reading plan but to just open up my Bible and read as I feel led. That’s worked out well so far. I even managed not to get bogged down in books like Leviticus or Numbers.

It hasn’t always been pretty. So far, God’s people haven’t lived up to their name. There have been isolated periods of faithfulness but too many seasons of rampant wickedness and idolatry.

It boggles my mind how easily the Israelites were ensnared into the worship of the gods of the surrounding nations. Even the gods of the people they had conquered.

It all started when they failed to fully obey God’s command to fully drive out the inhabitants when they took possession of the land God had promised them despite God’s warnings of what would happen if they didn’t.

The truth is that partial obedience is disobedience. Plain and simple. Half-hearted loyalty to God won’t last. It eventually leads to apostasy.

I’ve had my share of times when I partially obeyed, when I wasn’t fully committed to God. And just as it took hardships for God’s people to see the error of their ways and return to God, there are times in my life when I’ve struggled for my lack of faithfulness and devotion.

The good news? God is always ready to receive the repentant heart that’s ready to repent and return. God still wants all my heart and all my soul and all my mind and all my strength, but He’s unendingly patient waiting for me to come to the place where I can finally comply.

The best news is that what God looks for above all is a heart that is willing and yearning for God to break it and transform it. Not super abilities or smarts or piousness. Just my availability.

There will be more updates to come.