(While I'm working on NaNoWriMo – 50K words in 30 days – please enjoy a few refresher posts. Thanks for understanding!)
Studying God's word as a habit runs a risk of becoming a boring routine. Instead, each time we sit down at our desk or wherever we study, we should expect to hear directly from the God of the universe, the Savior who loves us and gave Himself for our redemption. What a privilege!
We don't have to wonder, like ancient pagans, if we have angered God or how we can please Him. He tells us plainly who He is and what He expects.
He didn't save us, then leave to figure things out for ourselves. He gave us a Guidebook, a personal Guide in the Holy Spirit, and 24 hour access to His throne Room.
But He never forces us to utilize those resources. He leaves the decision with us.
Do we want to continue to struggle and question, or would we rather find comfort and reassurance?
Do we prefer stress and burdens, or could we take the easy way out and let God handle it?
Studying, absorbing, integrating His word into our lives is a key to developing intimacy with God. However, if we approach it as a mindless to-do item, or if we're guilted into it, we lose sight of those benefits.
If your study time has become mechanical (or non-existent), here's a suggestion. Leave the notebook behind. Change venues. (I read at my desk- I could move to the backporch.) Change Bibles. (Grab something other than my marked-up study Bible.)
Just read. And don't stop until God speaks. He honors that desire to know Him and hear from Him.
Then after you hear FROM Him, be ready to do FOR Him.