Daily Bible Reading and Prayer

We all need the kind of peace that this photograph evokes.  It often comes from daily time with the Lord.  And yet, I have never known a person who read the Bible and prayed regularly who didn’t struggle.  Frankly, Satan knows our Bible meditation and prayer thwarts him completely, and he won’t go down without a fight.  This is an encouragement to stay with it.  Don’t be surprised if you find it a struggle.  We all do!

1.  If you haven’t bought or haven’t stay with Vicki and Jim Egli’s breakthrough devotional, you still can.  If you do have one but are behind, just pick one up Sunday at the informational table in the back of the auditorium.  I personally think they are great.  They cost a few bucks.  So buy one and start mid-Stream.  Believe me, the Egli’s will be grateful for you to just start, even if you begin with the fourth week or fifth week.  The devotions are easy to go through in a short time span, insightful and really inspirational.

2.  For you who find a little free time during the day at a computer screen, consider going to one of my favorite sites, Sacred spaces.   It’s a site run by the Irish Jesuits with lots of devotional-type information.  The hallmark of the site are its short, thoughtful daily devotionals.  Click through to today’s date and then follow the devotional through.  I’ve done it many, many times and found them a wonderful blessings.

3.  Dave Schmelzer at the Cambridge, Mass., Vineyard got me onto the daily readings from the Book of Common Prayer.  Very often I will do the Daily Morning Prayer:  Rite One or Rite Two.  They, too, are very inspirational to me.  Check out the Book of Common Prayer, if you’re interested.

4.  Some have very faithfully stayed with their readings in the One Year Bible.   Bless you.  But again, friends, if you have gotten behind don’t kick yourself.  Just stand up.  Wipe off the dust and pick up at today’s date.  We’re going to give each other plenty of grace in this matter.  Okay?

We must continually encourage each other in this vital arena, friends.  Do not get weary in doing what you know to be right.