It's not to early to think about next year

“I am undisciplined.”

“I don’t really have time for that.”

“I’m under grace, not the Law”

“There is no commandment that says “thou must have ½ an hour of devotions each day.”

“It has only been in the last few hundred years that common Christians have even had access to the Bible.”

 

 

 

I already can hear the objections and it isn’t even the New Year yet.   The topic of personal devotions is a minefield.

 

As someone who works two jobs and has a young family, I recognize time is at a premium.  I realize the tyranny of the urgent.

 

I wish I could tell you I wake up at 4am each morning well rested and enter into an hour of blissfully sweet communion with the Lord through prayer and His Word. I can’t. 

 

I also realize there are some who wear there time of personal devotions as a “badge of honor” for all to see … or should I perhaps say a “badge of self righteousness.”

 

So here is what I am (Lord willing) going to do in the coming year.

 

1.      I’m going to remember what my Jesus has done for me.  I’m going to remember that He came from Heaven to give me new life in Him … not to give me a ladder to climb in order to reach Heaven on my own.

2.      I’m going to pray in the morning and at night, and throughout the day. Some of the prayers may be as short as “Help me” or “Thank you.”  Some of them will be longer.  All of them will be heard by my Father.

3.      I’m going to read to His word, and delight in it.  There may be a time of the year when I only make it through a Psalm in the morning and a Proverb at night, but I don’t want to neglect the wonderful Word He has given me.

 

 

I’m not going to tell you how or how often or when you should spend your time with God next year.  I’m not going to tell you what books (if any) to use in addition to the Bible.  What I do want to encourage you to do is seek the Lord, cultivate a habit, commune with the Lord in prayer and His Word.  Bible reading plans can be helpful as long as they don’t become burdensome.  This year, I’m going to join my friend Charles Morris who shares God’s word each day on HAVEN Today…and attempt to read through the Bible in 90 days.  I hope you’ll prayerfully consider joining us.  Shoot me an email and I’ll send you the plan.

 

Robert Jacobsen

 

 

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