Happy New Year! 2015 is history. 2016 is a brand new year. Let’s consider 3 workable resolutions. First, read the Bible on a regular basis (Acts 17:11). I suggest using a daily Bible reading guide. I have found it helpful and workable for me. We have one that is available for you to use. If you are not already in the habit of reading the Bible on a regular basis, following this guide can help. Here are some suggestions for making daily Bible reading a habit:
Discipline yourself to do it at a certain time of day. Since I am a morning person, I am in the habit of reading a portion of it in the morning. But if you are not a morning person, do it at a time that is workable to you. Should a few days go by without reading the Bible, get back on track.
The main thing is to do it regularly.
Start slowly. Do not read the entire Bible at one sitting (although that would be a good thing to do). Pace yourself. Read a portion of it and allow sufficient time to focus on what you are reading.
Read slowly and carefully. Read a portion of it silently to yourself. Or read a portion of it out loud in private as though you are reading it to someone. You may feel uncomfortable doing it at first. But after doing it for a while, you may become more comfortable with it. Whether you do it silently or audibly, the main thing is to do it on a regular basis.
Read the Bible with the intention of learning what you are reading. Be like a sponge and soak it all in. Use a pen or pencil and paper, taking notes as you read. Second, pray (1 Thessalonians 5:17). The Bible is God communicating to us. Prayer is a child of God communicating to God. We need to keep these lines of communication open at all times.
Here are some suggestions for making prayer a habit:
Discipline yourself to do it at a certain time of day or several times during the day. Should you go a few days without praying, get back on track. Whether you do it for a few minutes at a time or longer, the main thing is to do it regularly.
Pray silently or out loud. Either way is acceptable to God. When I pray out loud in private it helps me focus on what I am saying.
Finally, be faithful in attending the worship services of the church
(Hebrews 10:24-25). There are many benefits derived from worshiping God with other Christians. Assembling in this passage is the act or practice of gathering together; it is not limited to one definite assembling to the exclusion of others, but to the act or practice of it regularly.
These 3 resolutions are workable. Let’s resolve to do them.
-Scott Vifquain
Discipline yourself to do it at a certain time of day. Since I am a morning person, I am in the habit of reading a portion of it in the morning. But if you are not a morning person, do it at a time that is workable to you. Should a few days go by without reading the Bible, get back on track.
The main thing is to do it regularly.
Start slowly. Do not read the entire Bible at one sitting (although that would be a good thing to do). Pace yourself. Read a portion of it and allow sufficient time to focus on what you are reading.
Read slowly and carefully. Read a portion of it silently to yourself. Or read a portion of it out loud in private as though you are reading it to someone. You may feel uncomfortable doing it at first. But after doing it for a while, you may become more comfortable with it. Whether you do it silently or audibly, the main thing is to do it on a regular basis.
Read the Bible with the intention of learning what you are reading. Be like a sponge and soak it all in. Use a pen or pencil and paper, taking notes as you read. Second, pray (1 Thessalonians 5:17). The Bible is God communicating to us. Prayer is a child of God communicating to God. We need to keep these lines of communication open at all times.
Here are some suggestions for making prayer a habit:
Discipline yourself to do it at a certain time of day or several times during the day. Should you go a few days without praying, get back on track. Whether you do it for a few minutes at a time or longer, the main thing is to do it regularly.
Pray silently or out loud. Either way is acceptable to God. When I pray out loud in private it helps me focus on what I am saying.
Finally, be faithful in attending the worship services of the church
(Hebrews 10:24-25). There are many benefits derived from worshiping God with other Christians. Assembling in this passage is the act or practice of gathering together; it is not limited to one definite assembling to the exclusion of others, but to the act or practice of it regularly.
These 3 resolutions are workable. Let’s resolve to do them.
-Scott Vifquain