Skip to main content

A Simple Pattern of Bible Reading and Prayer by Pastor Charlie Handren

By Anonymous
     The greatest commandment is to love the Lord our God with all of our heart and soul and mind and strength (Mark 12:28-34). It touches my heart so deeply that our Creator and Lord wants, above all things, a loving relationship with those he created in his image. Just think of all the things he could have commanded us to do above all other things, and then be in awe of the heart and will of God for his creation!

     With this in mind, we would do well to ponder this principle: in order to love God most, we must put him first. We must make him a priority in our daily schedule, in our thoughts, and in our affections. Now, I’m a morning person and by God’s grace I’m able to wake up early enough to spend time with the Lord before going to work. If you’re not a morning person or your schedule doesn’t allow you to spend time with the Lord each morning, then just find some way to say “good morning” to the Lord and labor to set your mind on things above. Then commit yourself to a regular time with the Lord later in the day, and treat that appointment like it’s the most important appointment of your life—because it is!

     With this in mind, here’s my daily pattern for reading and memory. First, when I wake up in the morning, I grab my Bible right away and open to my reading for the day. Over the years, I’ve learned that if my first decision is to be with God, I’m much more aware of him and prone to seek him in all things. Second, before I read, I say good morning to the Lord, and ask him to help me as I read his Word. I don’t pray very long, just enough to turn my heart toward him and ask for his assistance. Third, I read my daily readings. This year I’m using the Discipleship Journal “One-Book-at-a-Time Plan,” so I read 3-4 chapters per day. I don’t go too deep, I just read and open my heart to God. 

     Fourth, I memorize or rehearse the weekly memory verse from the Fighter Verse program. It takes me 5-15 minutes to memorize the verse each week, and 1-2 minutes to rehearse it from day to day. Finally, I take some time to pray, to talk to the Lord. Sometimes I use a prayer list, other times I just talk to him about whatever he showed me in his Word or whatever is on my heart. Sometimes I just close my eyes, sit in silence, and enjoy being with my Creator and Savior. Love doesn’t need a lot of rules. When we rest in the presence of our Father, he leads us in the way we should go.

     With this foundation for the day, my heart is more disposed to “rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). This way of life is the will of God in Christ Jesus for his people, and oh what a blessed way of life it is. And this way of life is best nurtured as we put God first each day, spending special time with him and surrendering our hearts to him.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Worship Songs, October 15, 2017

By
We post these worship songs leading up to the worship service so that parents may listen to them in the house or in the car within the days leading up to the worship service. Our hope is that children will hear the songs prior to and it will prepare them to participate in worship on Sunday mornings. My Redeemers Love Hope Has Come I Will Glory In My Redeemer Blessed Be Your Name Here In Your Presence Your Glory Be Still My Soul (In You I Rest) -- Sermon Text: John 11:1-16 That the next generation will set their hope in God and not forget the works of God (Psalm 78:7).
Post a Comment
Read more

Deacons - How They Serve and Strengthen the Church (Part 1)

By
  One of the next important priorities for GCF is to establish deacons in the life of the church. On March 14, 2021 we were able to establish an elder team. Currently, we have a team of four elders overseeing the congregation of GCF.  However, there is more work to be done. I have come to see that establishing an elder team was the bare minimum that needed to happen for GCF to survive. I believe GCF now needs to turn our attention to raising up a team of qualified and willing deacons to serve the congregation so that it will not only survive but thrive.   I would like to begin a series of blogs on deacons to help us understand who they are and what they do in the life of the church.  In this blog let me provide three reasons why I think deacons should be near our top priority.  Number 1: It is Biblical. Paul instructs Timothy to install elders who will help him pastor the church. For whatever reason, it seems the churches in our circles treat the installmen...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Secret of all Failure is our Failure in Secret Prayer

By
“We may be assured of this—the secret of all failure is our failure in secret prayer” (12). So writes the anonymous author of the classic little book on prayer entitled, The Kneeling Christian (Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids: 1971). He means that the reason we so often fall into sin or live in discouragement or fail to bear fruit is because we do not cling to God in Christ above all things. We do not diligently seek him or lean on him or plead with him or draw on his strength. We give ourselves to busyness over communion with God and in this way we seek to accomplish in our flesh what can only be accomplished in the power of the Spirit.  Giving first place to what our dear author calls “secret prayer” is indeed a key to the Spirit-filled life but let’s be clear: prayer is not magic, rather, it’s a relationship. It’s not as if we simply have to file requests with God, being careful to use just the right words so that we can get him to respond as we wish. God is not a vendi...
Post a Comment
Read more