Can You Understand Me Now?

Give me understanding and I will obey your instructions;
    I will put them into practice with all my heart.

Psalm 119:34

Here is yet another confession:  I don't always understand what I read in the Bible.  That's right, sometimes I will read something and sit there through two, maybe three, cups of coffee pondering what I read and end up with a headache.  

I told a friend about my dilemma and he smiled and simply said, "You're overthinking it.  First, Ask God to show you what He wants you to understand from the passage.  Second, brace yourself because what He reveals to you may be so very simple that it blows your socks off."  I was stunned!  Then he went on to tell me that we tend to make the Scriptures much more complicated than they truly are. 

Here's a little tidbit that may just put me out of a job, but thought you should know anyway.  Early in the church, the priests and monks came from wealthy families and were usually very well educated.  Most of the people could not read much and very few could read the Latin, Greek and Aramaic which the Scriptures were written.  Now, the average household has at least 4 Bibles (might be in the attic, on the coffee table, under that wobbly table leg).  But if we follow the simple counsel of asking God to make the Scriptures make sense to us, ask what He wants us to take from the passage, you'll be astounded how clear the messages will be.

One other thing....I grew up reading the King James Bible.  No offense to this translation, but I don't know too many who regularly speak to their friends that way.  Pick a translation or more that is easier for you to understand.  That just a start.