Lisa Samra- Christians often compare our spiritual lives to running a race, a theme we see in Scripture. The author of Hebrews encourages us to "run with perseverance the race marked out for us" (Heb. 12:1).
The Bible also provides us with some practices to help us on our journey—similar to the aids runners use that allow them to run long distances. (Google image, Running a race )
These biblical habits are often called spiritual disciplines. Common spiritual disciplines include prayer, solitude, fasting, Bible reading, and Scripture memorization.
If you have never engaged in these practices or need a fresh training schedule, following are some suggestions:
For prayer and solitude, consider the pattern of Jesus who got up early in the morning to pray in a solitary place (Mark 1:35). Some Christians practice solitude today by creating a dedicated space in their house where they can regularly pray without distraction.
The discipline of fasting encourages Christians to give up an item or activity, perhaps food or social media, for a set amount of time in order to focus on time with God. A simple way to fast from food involves not eating from the time you awake until dinner. During lunch, use the time when you would be eating to pray.
Regular Bible reading and memorization are important practices to guide you on your spiritual journey. Consider using a Bible-reading plan, such as the Our Daily Bread plan that covers the entire Bible in one year. As you read, take note of meaningful verses and commit them to memory.
As you incorporate these spiritual disciplines into your life, you will be strengthened by the Holy Spirit to run your race well."
(Lisa Samra, Our Daily Bread writer)
(Taken from Our Daily Bread®, © Jan./2019 by Our Daily Bread Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. www.odb.org).
~ Jane Ault- Are You Enjoying Obedience?
It is possible to obey--
The law with its demands has gone.
The comfort of grace has come.
By the Spirit, I trust and obey.
It is delightful to obey--
For I know by glad experience
The sweetness of Christ’s presence
By the Spirit, I trust and obey
It is possible to obey--
I’m not concerned with pleasing me
From that bondage, I’m set free
By the Spirit, I trust and obey
It is powerful to obey--
Through strength and persistence,
I conquer my resistance.
By the Spirit, I trust and obey
It is possible to obey--
‘Cause Jesus who kept God’s commands
Gives me power to follow them
By the Spirit, I trust and obey.
It is satisfying to obey--
With a heart full of gratitude
And joy as my attitude.
By the Spirit, I trust and obey.
Let's pray-
Father, our spiritual lives are compared to running a race. We see in the book of Hebrews that we're to run with perseverance, which we find out, to do it well, we'll need help from Your Spirit.
Impress upon us the common spiritual disciplines of prayer, solitude, fasting, Bible reading, and Scripture memorization. As we incorporate these spiritual disciplines into our lives, we are confident that we will be strengthened by Your Spirit to run our races well.
We find it's powerful to obey Your leading, for in the strength and through our persistence, we'll conquer our resistance, and by Your Spirit, we will trust and obey.
Help us in our race, Father. We commit our lives afresh to You, and ask for Your Spirit to have His way in helping us be persistent in our daily walk, to follow the disciplines mentioned above.
In Christ's name we pray. Amen.
Did you know?
~ God values our words and responses in our journey more than the outcome of a situation.
~ There will always be a blessing when we're obedient to what God directs.
Today's next 5 posts of 100 things Our God Is . . .
Impress upon us the common spiritual disciplines of prayer, solitude, fasting, Bible reading, and Scripture memorization. As we incorporate these spiritual disciplines into our lives, we are confident that we will be strengthened by Your Spirit to run our races well.
We find it's powerful to obey Your leading, for in the strength and through our persistence, we'll conquer our resistance, and by Your Spirit, we will trust and obey.
Help us in our race, Father. We commit our lives afresh to You, and ask for Your Spirit to have His way in helping us be persistent in our daily walk, to follow the disciplines mentioned above.
In Christ's name we pray. Amen.
Did you know?
~ God values our words and responses in our journey more than the outcome of a situation.
~ There will always be a blessing when we're obedient to what God directs.
Today's next 5 posts of 100 things Our God Is . . .
81. Our Faithful High Priest
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82. Our Bridegroom
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83. Our Hope of Glory
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84. Pleased to Give Us the Kingdom
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85. Equipping Us
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Today's Bible verses-
Titus 2:11-14 (NKJV)"For the grace of God that
brings salvation has appeared to all men,
(v. 12) teaching us that, denying ungodliness and
worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously,
and godly in the present age,
(v 13) looking for the blessed hope and glorious
appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ
(v. 14) who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem
us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His
own special People, zealous for good works."
Gal. 5:16, 17 (NKJV) "I say then: Walk in the Spirit,
and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
(v. 17) For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the
Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to
one another, so that you do not do the things
that you wish."
Heb. 12:1 (NKJV) "Therefore we also, since we are
surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us
lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily
ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race
that is set before us."
Titus 2:11-14 (NKJV)"For the grace of God that
brings salvation has appeared to all men,
(v. 12) teaching us that, denying ungodliness and
worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously,
and godly in the present age,
(v 13) looking for the blessed hope and glorious
appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ
(v. 14) who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem
us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His
own special People, zealous for good works."
Gal. 5:16, 17 (NKJV) "I say then: Walk in the Spirit,
and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
(v. 17) For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the
Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to
one another, so that you do not do the things
that you wish."
Heb. 12:1 (NKJV) "Therefore we also, since we are
surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us
lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily
ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race
that is set before us."
Today's quote-
~ Hidden Source of Revival Power
Charles G. Finney went to Bolton to minister, but before he began, two men knocked on the door of a poor widow's cottage, wanting lodgings. The woman looked amazed, for she had no extra accommodation.
After some negotiation, the two men, named Fathers Nash and Clary, rented her dark and damp cellar for twenty-five cents a day for the period of Finney's meetings in the town.
There it was, in that self-chosen cell, that those prayer partners battled the forces of darkness.
With all due credit to Mr. Finney for what was done, it was the praying men who held the ropes. The tears they shed, the groans they uttered, are written in the book of the chronicles of the things of God."
"My life is passing so quickly.
Days merge, a blur
Weeks and months disappear, gone forever
Days merge, a blur
Weeks and months disappear, gone forever
What did I do?
Did I make each day count?
Did my life count?
Am I living in the moment?"
Did my life count?
Am I living in the moment?"
Upcoming posts-
#29 The Importunity of Prayer
16th- Tuesday's post by Samuel Chadwick#30 Prayer and Supplication
18th- Thursday's post by Samuel Chadwick
Walking on Water
20th- Saturday's post by Lee Forbes
#31 The Cost of Prayer
23rd- Tuesday's post by Samuel Chadwick
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Thank you for the reminder to keep on doing those spiritual disciplines.
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