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| <~~~ BACK "The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes." Psalm 19:8 "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." Psalm 119:105 The Bible is our guide to all things in life. If we just listen to our pastors for enlightenment, we're not getting the complete picture. By reading the Bible, we come as close as we can to reading God's mind. THE BIBLE EQUALS POWERFUL PRAYERS "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples." John 15:7-8 "When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives�" James 4:3 By reading the Bible and using it as our guide to life, our prayers actually become more powerful. If we actively seek out a more intimate relationship with God, we communicate better with him on all levels. THERE IS NO REASON NOT TO KNOW THE BIBLE There was a time, many centuries ago, when the Bible was available to very few people--but we have no such excuses today. A trip to almost any Christian or large-scale book store will reveal a myriad of Bibles, geared toward all ages and abilities. There are large-print Bibles for those with vision problems; Bibles for small children, teens, singles, married couples, and seniors; Bibles in modern-day English; Bibles on CD and tape for those who aren't "readers;" etcetera. The only "trick" involved is to set aside time to read (or listen to) your Bible. (If you listen to the Bible, be sure to give God your full attention; don't juggle Bible listening with distracting chores.) If one time of the day isn't working for you, try doing your Bible reading at a different time the following day. Some folks like to get up early and read the Bible; others prefer to listen to it on headphones during their lunch hour; others prefer to read it in the evening, with their family; still others listen to it in the shower; others still read it before bed. The time of day doesn't matter. Just do it! Merely reading (or listening) isn't enough, though. Instead of flying over the words on the page, stop and think about what you've just read. What does it mean? How does it apply to life? For most people, having a pen handy will be helpful. In your Bible, jot down notes from your pastor's sermons, or write down thoughts that occur to you as you read. If you listen to a Bible, keep a notebook handy and write down your reactions and thoughts. The very act of writing makes the process more interactive, and you're more likely to remember what you've listened to. Ultimately, we all have to make a commitment to read the Bible. Think of it as a direct commitment to God himself, and you're probably less likely to brush it off. It will help to pray about it, too. Tell God that you know he wants you to read his word; ask him for help in finding a way and a time to come to it daily; ask for wisdom as you read it, too. A million different things will sneak in and try to steal time away from you and your Bible reading. A million things will try to steal time away from you and your relationship with God. Be determined not to let them sucker you. This week's recommendation is one of Share Agape's own "links" pages. Here you'll find several online Bibles (including an audio Bible), and a site that will help you come up with a reasonable reading plan for Bible study: http://www.geocities.com/shareagapeweekly/ShareAgapeBiblesOnline.html Questions Q: Why do some Christians refuse to celebrate Halloween? A: The quick answer is that Halloween has occultic roots, and Christians are commanded throughout the Bible to stay away from the occult (for example: Deut. 18:10; 2 Chron.33:6; Gal 5:20). However, this is a somewhat controversial topic, and rather than try to hash it all out here, I'd like to recommend that you read GotQuestions.org's brief but helpful reply to a similar question: http://www.gotquestions.org/Christians-celebrate-Halloween.html You can find more answers to Halloween related subjects here: http://www.gotquestions.org/Halloween.html GOT A QUESTION? I invite you to ask it. What stumps you? I'll do my best to find an answer! To ask a question, email me at [email protected]. (c) 2003 by Kristina Seleshanko |
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