Scripture to Help You Grow Today
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After writing my last post, I felt the need to give all of you some scripture to help you today in your walk with Christ.
I know that some of you are struggling. I understand the struggle. No one is immune to these struggles in life, and no one gets it easy because of the color of their skin, their sex, their money, or any other problem they may have.
We all have struggles at one time or another. One of the great joys of being a Christian though is that God gives us so many tools and resources to overcome the difficulties of life.
In fact, I’m sick and tired of this whole idea in America that if you’re struggling, it has to do with your race. There seems to be a lot of that going around. What I want to remind you of though, is that if you are struggling today, you only have to look as far as the face in the mirror to find the real problem. I know this because I learned that God is not out to punish us. He doesn’t do bad things to us. We often make our own troubles.
After reading Dr. Frederick C. K. Price’s book, “Answered Prayer Guaranteed!” I started praying the way Dr. Price recommends. Since then, I’ve seen a lot more of my prayers answered. I’ve learned to pray according the word of God. To pray according to the promises God has made us, and it has changed my life. If you haven’t read this book, then I highly recommend you read it. It will change your life.
As Dr. Norman Vincent Peale once said, if you’re not spending at least 15 minutes a day trying to change your life, you’re really not serious about it. Changing your life is easy. All you have to do is rewrite the negative programming in your brain.
If you’ve never read the Bible before, then I highly recommend you read it. However, don’t start with the Old Testament and read it straight through. As a Christian, you need to start with the New Testament. Spend 15 minutes a day reading your Bible and praying, and it will change your life.
Here’s how to get started:
First, start by reading the New Testament through twice. It will take you about a year to do this, but you only need to read about three chapters a day. Highlight any passages that strike a chord with you and memorize them.
Next, read the gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Read 3 chapters a day. If you read three chapters a day, you will finish them in 90 days. The four gospels will tell you all about Jesus, what He taught, and what you need to know about Him. These books will also reveal the truth of Jesus Christ to you.
Then, read the following list of short epistles. Read each book for 7 days. Once you’ve read one book for 7 days, then start on the next one.
1 John – One of the most insane things I’ve ever heard from Christians is when you ask them if they are saved and they say they don’t know. If you don’t know whether or not you are saved and going to heaven, then you definitely need to find out. This short book, written by John, one of Jesus’s disciples, will help you answer this question.
1 Peter – If you’re struggling to live the Christian life, or you’re just plain struggling, then you will want to read this book. It puts things in perspective and gives some good information on living the Christian life.
James – This is one of my favorite books, and it’s one I read when I am struggling. It’s about expressing your faith in daily living. This is a great book to help you build your faith.
Galatians, Ephesians, Phillipians, and Colossians. These four books are full of all kinds of wisdom for you and deal with everything from the spiritual weapons you have to dealing with anxiety and getting prayers answered.
Take the other short books and read them through that way too. Read with a pencil and highlighter and write down passages you want to memorize. Let this sink down deep into your consciousness. The more you do this, the more your life will change.
Today, I would recommend you read the following chapters:
Matthew 6, Luke 12, and Phillipians 4. The first two will help you deal with worry. The last one is one of my favorites, and I find it to be uplifting.
Once you’ve had a chance to study the New Testament, then read the Bible through in a year. Read 2 chapters from the Old Testament and 1 from the New Testament Monday through Saturday. On Sunday, read 3 chapters from the Old Testament and 2 from the New Testament. This will only take you a few minutes each day.
Finally, get you a good translation of the Bible to read. I like to read the NIV on a daily basis, but if you need a good study Bible, the most accurate translation of the Bible is the New American Standard Version. The New King James Version is also a good translation to read. There are plenty of others.
If you need to search the Scriptures, then I would recommend Bible Gateway. You’ll also find plenty of other resources there. Another good site is Blue Letter Bible. This site also offers lots of resources for you, including Bible commentaries.
Keep reading your Bible. Do it every day. Pray and grow in the Word. It will change your life for the better.
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November 05 2008 01:30 pm | Real Christianity
