Good morning on this first Saturday of 2009. It is important to practice the spiritual habits which will produce spiritual growth during the rest of this new year. The following suggestions should prove to be helpful in doing so.
(1) If you read five chapters of the Bible each day you will easily read the Bible through this year. By reading four chapters of the Old Testament and one of the New Testament you will add variety to your Bible reading. Even only reading one chapter of the New Testament every day will enable you to read the New Testament through several times this year.
(2) Use a good study Bible for your reading so you can read the accompanying explanatory notes and chapter headings to add clarity, understanding, and meaning to your time in Scripture. The Life Application Bible is my personal favorite.
(3) Make a personal prayer list and include on it the following:
A. List your personal requests for which you will regularly pray and update it as often as needed.
B. List others for whom you will regularly pray. Family members, friends, the sick, the bereaved, people who need Christ or are away from the Lord, servicemen and women, spiritual leaders, world leaders, and missionaries are some of those who should be on your list. Divide them up and pray for them on a revolving basis as well as all at once as circumstances dictate and time permits.
(4) When God convicts you for wrongdoing, immediately ask forgiveness and ask for strength to overcome the offense in the future. This is called "keeping a short sin list."
(5) Spend time praising God for who and what He is each day. The list of 365 names of God provided at the church's information desk in the main foyer is a good resource as is the entire book of Psalms. Focus on at least one of God's praiseworthy attributes throughout the day and take time to count your blessings and offer God thanks for those blessings on a regular basis.
(6) Think of folks you can invite to church, share your testimony with, and influence for Christ with the gospel. Reach out to others and be soul conscious, looking for opportunities to represent Christ to others.
(7) Strive to live your life this year so as to do something each day which will count for eternity and carry on beyond your life.
Tomorrow's sermon is entitled, Making The Most Of Your Money, and will be one of three sermons which will help you stretch your dollars and live better on what you have by teaching Biblical principles regarding money.
I'll look forward to seeing you there.
Mel Brown