THINK ABOUT IT
Those who participate in sports you have heard a coach say "we need to go back
to the basics." This may be dribbling for basketball, passing for soccer, or
blocking for football. Usually this means you need to go back over some of the
basic principles of the sport in which you participate. The importance of the
basics is so great that without them you cannot expect to succeed.
Likewise, in Christianity, we need to return to the basics of reading God's Word. Many adults and teens alike will admit that they struggle periodically with finding time to read the Bible each day (myself included). Yet this is such a powerful thing that can have a domino effect in other areas of our lives.
In an article, entitled Real Faith in a Virtual World, (The Christian Chronicle, May, 1999, pp. 18-19) the writer looks at the impact of Bible reading on teens. The findings are based on ACU's Center for Adolescent Studies' 14 years of researching teens across the country. The findings indicate that 91% of teens who read their Bibles daily also had an active prayer life as compared to 53% for those who rarely read their Bibles. When it comes to service, 83% of those who read daily are willing to serve while 39% of those who rarely read their Bibles were willing to serve. When looking at the impact of Bible reading on depression, respect, & apathy those who read their Bibles daily showed a more Christ-like attitude in these areas than those that rarely do so.
What this means is that we need to be focused on Bible reading. Finding a time & place to do this every day isn't just a good idea but can help impact your prayer life, willingness to serve, struggles with depression, & help you be more respectful, & less apathetic.
As I write this we are approaching the first of a new year. The first of the year is always a time when I like many try to set goals for the future. One of those goals I always try to set is for my daily Bible reading. My challenge for you is to do two things.
1. Set a daily Bible reading goal for the next year. If you want a “schedule” to follow, try one below. Parents, we need to be examples of daily Bible reading & encouraging our families to read their Bibles each day.
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DOWNLOAD A BIBLE READING SCHEDULE
Below are 5
Daily Bible reading schedules to choose from. They are in "Adobe Acrobat"
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2. Share that goal with someone who will encourage you to accomplish it. Tell your parents or best friend what you plan to do and ask them to pray for you as you do this and check up on you periodically to see how you are doing. Even better would be to have the same “schedule” as that person so you can talk about what you are reading together.
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path” (Psalm 119:105). Allow God’s word to light your way and take you to places you’ve never been. And whatever you do, never forget that there's truly POWER IN THE WORD- A power that will effect you in so many ways if you will only let it. His... Daryl Miller
. Each begins with
Jan. 1 & ends with Dec. 31. If you would like a personalized schedule for
specific dates and / or that covers specific portions of the Bible, please
contact me. His... Daryl Miller