Bible Reading Plan

In mid-December, my weekly challenge to you was to find a Bible reading plan for the new year. There are over 600 of these on YouVersion, ranging from a couple days to the entire year. The website's selection allows you to peruse devotionals, topical, family, youth, new, and featured reading plans. In the last year I've worked on the chronological, Dave Ramsey's Financial Wisdom, and Christmas plans. I spent time looking through several options yesterday and decided on the Day by Day with Billy Graham devotional. I can either read the plan on my phone, or on the computer. I also signed up to receive the devotional in my email every morning, so I have no excuse!

On the right side of the screen is Graham's words, followed by a daily prayer, and to the left is a piece of scripture that he highlights. It'll take me about five minutes each day; I can give God at least this much time studying and meditating on His word, I pray.  Before I read each day, I also want to ask God two questions, as suggested by Pastor Glen: 

1. "What are you saying to me?" 
2. "What am I going to do about it?" 


Asking these questions will make my reading more focused and intentional. Wish me luck!

Here is an example from yesterday's reading:

Filled With Christ: As we flick the calendar to a new year, we come face to face with the fact that our days on earth are numbered. As the Psalmist wrote, “Teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” No thoughtful person can approach New Year’s Day without some introspection. We are reminded of the brevity of time. We also look back over our failures, mistakes, and missed opportunities, and vow that we will make better use of our time during the coming year. We should take time to be pleasant, to smile, to extend the small courtesies we often omit—to show love to our family. Psychiatrists tell us that most people are starved for love. Take time for the goodbye kiss; we shall go to work with a sweeter spirit. Let us take time to get acquainted with our families. We are not machines. We are not robots. The secret of a happy home is that members of the family learn to give and receive love. Let us take time to express our love in a thousand ways.

Daily Prayer: As I begin a new year, Lord Jesus, I pray that my walk through the days ahead will be filled with Your love for others, a love that does not count the cost.

Philippians 3:13: Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before...

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