Enjoying the Journey
Posts Tagged ‘Bible reading’
Stop (Just) Reading the Bible!
Yes, that’s what I said. Stop it. Stop reading the Bible. It is not that the Bible should not be read, rather, it is that too often we substitute Bible reading for the greater work. Reading Scripture passages is just the entry point! Our communication with God must be much more than that. American Christianity has too often portrayed that following a system of Bible reading is the essence of walking with God. This easily creates “a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof” (2 Timothy 3:5). Merely reading the Bible will not take you beyond a surface understanding, and it will not allow the truth to get beneath the surface of your life. We must go more deeply…
Read MoreSome Advice For Your Bible Reading This Year
We are one week into the new year. How are you doing with your devotional Bible reading so far? Many believers begin at the first of the year with some goal. Perhaps you have already started. For many of us the first weeks of the year are fairly easy…then comes the daily grind. The routines of life have a way of distracting us from what truly matters. Remember that our time in God’s Word is a marathon – not a sprint. The goal is not to be in the Word for a short period of time but to live in the Word for the rest of your life. Take a new challenge. I have heard of several friends who are…
Read MoreA Fresh Start For Your Bible Reading
Just this week as I was reading God’s Word I noticed a reference that Jesus made to the reading of Scripture. In Luke 6:3 Christ spoke to religious people when He said, “Have ye not read so much as this…? Those who knew so much about God had failed to read some of the most basic portions of His Word! If they had read it, they had forgotten it. Or misunderstood it. Or failed to obey it. The point is: they needed to read it again! And so do we. All this week on our “Enjoying the Journey” podcast I am dealing with simple principles that will help us return to daily Bible reading. I do hope you will listen…
Read MoreThis Month’s Free Downloadable Resource!
Just this week someone asked me where they should begin in their Bible reading. So many people are looking for a plan or devotional help. Some are looking for a place to get started. Others are looking for a place to start again. It is easy to allow your devotional life to grow stale. Remember that your soul may grow dry but the Word of God never does – it is perennially fresh! Go back to the Scriptures and you will find that the river still flows! My suggestion to others in recent days connects to this month’s free resource: REDISCOVER THE PSALMS. The book of Psalms is God’s devotional book for His chosen people. It is both the Hebrew…
Read MoreWhat to Do When Your Devotional Life Grows Stale
Has your devotional life become dry? As far as you know there is no unconfessed sin. You are reading the Bible and going through the mechanics of prayer, but it seems like mere motion. We have all been there! People often think that preachers must jump out of bed in the morning, always excited about their quiet time with God. Nothing could be further from the truth! We all battle with flesh. Even on our best days there is a struggle to keep the devotional life fresh. Permit me to share a few practical suggestions that have been of help to me… Sometimes it is good to “switch things up.” All of us can get in a rut – our souls…
Read MorePraying the Proverbs
Many years ago someone suggested to me that I make a practice of reading a passage in the book of Proverbs every day. It is a book of wisdom for living – and I for one need that wisdom! If you read the chapter that corresponds with the day of the month you can easily stay on schedule and read through all 31 chapters in a month. A few weeks ago I began a new journey through this powerful book. I have read the chapters often and memorized many of the verses. But this trip through Solomon’s proverbs has been different. I have tried to personalize each verse. Nothing makes truth personal like prayer – taking it to heart and…
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