I would like to share some of my best council with you.
- Read the whole Bible again, cover to cover.
- I have been doing this for many years, and look forward to reading it again.
- Get an alarm clock and a coffee pot. You have to leave for work at 5:00 a.m.? No problem. Put God and His word first, and you will see good changes in your life.
- Get a new Bible translated in a style you can understand. This is an investment where you will spend many hours in this coming year. I read the New Living Translation (NLT) in 2010 and plan to read it again. If you get a study Bible it will take more time to read but you get the advantage of having a mentor walk with you.
- I have a plan that includes the Old Testament, the New Testament and a portion of Psalms and Proverbs each day. I like the variety of texts each morning.
- Learn to be grateful.
- I bought a journal that had five lines per day. Each day I had to write down five things I was grateful for. I did this as a discipline for one year. Now I do it as a lifestyle.
- God despises excessive grumbling, complaining and murmuring. It gets on His nerves. Always having insight into what is wrong is not God’s gift to you.
- Honest, overflowing, spoken and written gratefulness helps God want to do even more with you and through you.
- Keep a journal with your Bible. Write in it every day.
- Purchase an expensive journal. Get a pen that is a real treat to use. It might cost a few dollars more that you would usually pay but this is another important investment.
- Here are some suggestions to write on one page or less per day.
- What Happened – WH? – a few highlights of the previous day.
- Gave / Took – Two lines. What gave you life? What drained you of life?
- Thankfulness – 3 or 5 bullet points per day.
- Me to God – M2G – What are your prayer requests? Make them known to God.
- God to Me – G2M – I usually try to end my devotional time with 5 minutes of quiet listening. Who likes one-way conversations? Not God. What is He showing you through the Bible reading? Any dreams or visions? Any unusual thoughts or friends keep coming to mind? Do you hear God encouraging you? If you listen you will hear this more here than anywhere else in your day. Write it down.
- Find a mentor.
- Think about a godly person you respect.
- Ask them if they will meet with you once a week, or once a month.
- At these meetings ask them about how they would handle the various situations that you find yourself in.
These disciplines change my life.
I look forward to every new morning.
I look forward to every new morning.
This is my prayer and hope for you.
Warmly,
Rick Bergen.
Rick, thanks for taking the time to post this. I just finished reading it. It is 15 after 12 midnight, jan 1, 2011. Not the worst way to start a new year? marg B
Very good ideas Rick. I just read Andrew Murray’s book “Absolute Surrender” and he would add being totally surrendered to God’s will and being filled with and led by His Spirit are needed for a fruitful life. Blessings to you and your family. Love, Rena
I received a beautiful Journal for Christmas this year – what better way to use it than for what you have suggested and shared with us. Our personal walk with Jesus is the ONLY thing that counts because if we truly walk with HIM, we will enjoy His company and want to do what you have suggested. May you and your family have a Happy New Year. May God bless you all with His peace, love and joy. Love and Hugs to each of you. Nora M.
Hi Rick: Happy New Year to you all, I read the Bible every year as well, this year I am doing the Chronological Bible version. It is quite interesting and another viable option.
Bless You, I always look forward to your postings