It's On My Mind – Page 186

Read Devotional Writings

October 21, 2019 (Monday)

I recently published a blog entitled “Grow in Grace and Knowledge,” and I suggested “Six Simple Steps to Christian Growth.” (See below). The fifth of these steps was, “Read Devotional Writings.”

In the foyer of our church there are stacks of “Open Windows,” a booklet of daily devotionals written by dedicated Christians. The chapters are arranged as a calendar, with a new reading each day. The Baptist publication is one of many such books, booklets, tracts, etc. that are helpful to people seeking a close walk with the Lord.

Go to a Christian book store and you will amazed at how many Christian books are available. You can find many of these in your public libraries or your church’s library.

There are books of all kinds that can help you in your daily walk with Christ: novels, history, theology, sermons, devotionals, etc. etc.

More and more movies made by Christian organizations are available to be seen in public theaters. The artistic talent equals that of any other type of movie from professional movie makers. In addition to your reading, you might want to see a good, first class Christian-made movie.

Sometimes there are shows on television that are edifying and provide devotional moments for the viewers. Several widely-known and trusted men of God offer daily or weekly devotional thoughts or sermons that many people find very uplifting.

Jesus told us about a wayward son reduced to a desire to feed with pigs who went back home to his father and feasted at his father’s table. Perhaps some who are reading this are tired of the entertainment offered by “pig pens” and are ready to feast on better food. What have you read or viewed recently?

Teach Me Thy Way, O Lord
Benjamin M. Ramsey
1919

Teach me Thy way, O Lord, teach me Thy way!
Thy guiding grace afford, teach me Thy way!
Help me to walk aright, more by faith, less by sight;
Lead me with heav’nly light, teach me Thy way!

When I am sad at heart, teach me Thy way!
When earthly joys depart, teach me Thy way!
In hours of loneliness, in times of dire distress,
In failure or success, teach me Thy way!

When doubts and fears arise, teach me Thy way!
When storms o’erspread the skies, teach me Thy way!
Shine through the cloud and rain, through sorrow, toil, and pain;
Make Thou my pathway plain, teach me Thy way!

Long as my life shall last, teach me Thy way!
Where’er my lot be cast, teach me Thy way!
Until the race is run, until the journey’s done,
Until the crown is won, teach me Thy way!

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Grow in Grace and Knowledge
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. (2 Peter 3:18 NIV).
I am suggesting some steps for the new Christian to experience growth. These steps can also be good for seasoned Christians who desire a renewal of faith and a fresh start in living for Jesus. The six steps are: 1. Go to Church 2. Read the Bible 3. Pray 4. Talk about Jesus 5. Read Devotional Writings 6. Be aware of your daily life.

Talk About Jesus

October 20, 2019 (Sunday)

I recently published a blog entitled “Grow in Grace and Knowledge,” and I suggested “Six Simple Steps to Christian Growth.” (See below). The fourth of these steps was, “Talk about Jesus.”

What do you talk about all day long? Football, Baseball, Politics, Taxes? Come on, be completely honest. What do you talk about more than anything else? Maybe your talking about anything and everything except Jesus would prompt Jesus to say to you what he is saying in the picture above.

It may take some shifting of topics of conversation to give Jesus priority in your conversations each day. All of us who know Christ as Savior can talk about him and his love for us. Some of us must look inside our minds and hearts and ask ourselves if Jesus is worthy of our devotion. We know he is, but during an average day, how much do we talk about him?

Shouldn’t we be more like Peter and John when they were commanded by their spiritual leaders to keep quiet about Jesus? They replied, “We cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” In other words, they declared, “We cannot stop talking about Jesus.”

Your spiritual growth will depend in part on church attendance, Bible reading and prayer. It will also depend on your willingness to talk about Jesus. Make it a point to tell someone how much you love Jesus, every day. This will reinforce your commitment to Jesus Christ as your Savior. It will help you to grow as a Christian, and will probably result in your winning souls to faith in Jesus as Savior.

LET’S TALK ABOUT JESUS
Anonymous

Let’s talk about Jesus, the King of kings is He,
The Lord of lords, supreme, through out eternity
The Great I am the Way, the Truth, the Life, the Door
Let’s talk about Jesus more and more!

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Pray

October 19, 2019 (Saturday)

I recently published a blog entitled “Grow in Grace and Knowledge,” and I suggested “Six Simple Steps to Christian Growth.” (See below). The third of these steps was, “Pray.”

Jesus’ disciples asked him to teach them how to pray, and Jesus gave them a model prayer, now familiar to us as “The Lord’s Prayer.” It contains all the elements of prayer and is always appropriate.

But the prayer we are urging those seeking a close, personal, intimate walk with the Lord is just that kind of prayer: personal and intimate.

Jesus said, “When you pray, enter your closet and shut the door.” That instruction can be taken literally, or it can mean that prayer is just between you and God. The location of the one doing the praying is not relevant. We can pray anywhere and any time.

A public prayer, such as an invocation, is meant to be heard by those who can hear it, and the purpose of the prayer is to speak for all who are present. Everyone is invited to join the public prayer in their hearts and pray with the one who is praying aloud.

A private prayer, on the other hand, has no audience other than God. There is a song that says, “Let us have a little talk with Jesus.” That’s what real prayer is, and it is that kind of prayer that should be prayed every day by the person seeking to know Jesus better and to walk with Him daily.

In any case, your spiritual growth will depend in part on your prayer life. The Bible and Prayer go together. Read the Bible and pray every day. These special moments have been dubbed our “quiet time.” Sometimes it is called our “devotional time.” Select a place for this and, if possible, a definite time of day. Let nothing get in your way. Read the Bible and pray.

SWEET HOUR OF PRAYER
Lyrics – William W. Walford (1845)
Music – William B. Bradbury (1859)

“Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
That calls me from a world of care,
And bids me at my Father’s throne
Make all my wants and wishes known.
In seasons of distress and grief,
My soul has often found relief,
And oft escaped the tempter’s snare,
By thy return, sweet hour of prayer!

“Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
Thy wings shall my petition bear
To Him whose truth and faithfulness
Engage the waiting soul to bless.
And since He bids me seek His face,
Believe His Word and trust His grace,
I’ll cast on Him my every care,
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!”

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Read the Bible

October 18, 2019(Friday)

I recently published a blog entitled “Grow in Grace and Knowledge,” and I suggested “Six Simple Steps to Christian Growth.” (See below). The second of these steps was, “Read the Bible.”

The Bible, after all these years, is still the top selling book. That only means that many Bibles have been purchased, but it does not necessarily mean that the Bibles are being read.

We may begin by “reading” the Bible, but as we grow in Christ we move from “Bible Reading” to “Bible Study.” We are, however, discussing renewal and getting off to a new beginning, so it is appropriate for us to use the term, “read” rather than “study.” Hopefully, once we have disciplined ourselves to “read” the Bible, we will embark upon “studying” the Bible.

I suggest you begin your Bible reading with the gospel of Luke. I say that because Luke tells us so much about the stories that Jesus told, which are easy to understand. I believe that the beginning place for Bible reading is not necessarily the Creation, but instead is the Cross. As we follow the birth and ministry of Jesus in the gospel of Luke, we move along, page by page, toward the Cross of Christ, which is the most important part of the Bible, or so I believe.

When you have completed your reading of the gospel of Luke, or if you believe you are ready for more advanced reading of the Bible, you will be able to find many suggestions for schedules. There are several schedules to guide you in daily Bible readings that will guide you in reading the entire Bible through in one year. I think you would do better in understanding the Bible if you find some Bible study materials that will enable you to understand what the Bible is all about, and then guide you in your daily reading.

In any case, your spiritual growth will depend in part on your acquaintance with the Bible and its central messages. Read it every day. Select a place for the reading, and, if possible, a definite time of day. Let nothing get in your way. Read the Bible.

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Go to Church

October 17, 2019(Thursday)

Yesterday I published a blog entitled “Grow in Grace and Knowledge,” and I suggested “Six Simple Steps to Christian Growth.” (See below). The first of these steps was, “Go to Church.”

Of all the steps mentioned in the blog, “go to church” is probably the easiest. All you have to do is show up. Of course you will get the most value from the service if you pay attention to what’s happening there.

You can start by taking a good look at the words of the hymns or spiritual songs. Think about the meanings of those words. Let them speak to you or for you.

At some point in the worship service, someone will read verses of Scripture. Listen carefully. What do those words mean? Make a mental note (or write it down) to ask someone about it later. It’s just words unless you know what they mean. As you grow in knowledge of the Bible, you will begin asking questions about the Scripture verses you hear, like “what was the writer of these words saying to his generation?” and “how may I apply the meaning of these verses to my own life?”

No doubt an offering plate will be passed. If you are a new Christian, you have much to learn about stewardship. Your offering is an amount of money that can be used in the Lord’s work, but, more importantly your offering is a symbol of how much God means to you. It is an expression of your love for him.

Somebody will pray during the worship service. Perhaps several people will offer prayers. Listen carefully to what they are saying to the Lord, and pray with them in your heart. Perhaps some day you will be asked to pray publicly. Don’t be afraid. Just talk with the Lord, because that’s what prayer is.

The preacher will rise and begin speaking. Your part of the service at that time is to breathe a prayer for him as he presents a message to you from God. He may begin his sermon by reading a passage from the Bible. Hopefully, his sermon will be based on those words from the Bible. He may explain what those verses mean, and what they can mean for you. Listen carefully, and take the message personally. God speaks to us in many ways, and the sermon can be one of those ways.

Never leave at the end of the service without offering a silent prayer of dedication to your Lord. You can make a promise to the Lord. Be sure it’s a promise that is practical–something you can do.

Step number one, “Go to church,” is something you can do. It will help you grow in the grace and knowledge of your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

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