Developing Consistency In Your Bible Reading

One of the toughest areas of my spiritual life has traditionally been consistency in my Bible reading. It seems like it’s easy to slip away from this habit over all the other spiritual disciplines. And we can’t let that happen.

Developing Consistence In Your Bible Reading

Finding consistency is our spiritual habits is critical. But it’s not something we think about too often, if at all. We just kind of take it for granted, unless it’s missing, and then we notice, and we wish we could do better. But we don’t know how.

The Importance Of Consistency

The Bible is our primary source for knowing God and his will for our lives. He has written his love letter to us, in the form of the sixty-six books of the Bible. And, if we want to get to know who he is, and what he desires for our lives, that is where we will find it.

You learn a lot about God from spending time with him. And you get to know him better personally as well. He has opened himself to us through his word, and we can see his heart, his character, his love and much more.

And, the better you know the message of God, the better you understand his mission: to seek and save humanity. And you can see your role in that.

Unless we are reading the Word of God on a consistent basis, we won’t have a handle on these things. Reading daily will help you and I understand God better, know his Son more fully, and see his will more clearly.

Memorize Scripture: Philippians 4:21-23

In this final paragraph of Paul’s letter to the Philippians, he gives some final greetings and encouragement to the church he loves dearly.

You can see his final thoughts to them in Philippians 4:21-23:

Philippians 4:21-23

This is the final paragraph of Paul’s encouraging letter to the church in Philippi.

This greeting comes from four individuals or groups of people, and is given to two different groups of people.

In Paul’s final greeting, he lists those who extend the greeting, becoming more specific with each addition. First of all, and most obviously, Paul himself greets the believers in the Philippian church. Next, the brothers with him send greetings. Other than Timothy, we don’t know who this might have included. Third, all the saints send greetings. And finally, especially those of Caesar’s household. This shows Paul is continuing to be influential with the message of the gospel, even though he is imprisoned.

Next, this greeting is addressed to two different groups: the Philippian believers, who were the primary recipients of Paul’s letter, and also to all the saints. Paul’s greeting is very inclusive of the whole Christian community in Philippi, as he has been throughout the letter. Even though he has had to address a few individuals specifically, he makes sure the whole church in that city is encouraged.

Memorize Scripture: Philippians 4:19-20

Paul wraps up his letter to the Philippians with perhaps the most significant promise in the entire letter. And it is worth noting that this comes as the conclusion of this section on giving.

You can find this passage in Philippians 4:19-20:

Philippians 4:19-20

In the previous verses, Paul has given considerable attention to the gifts that the Philippian believers had sent to him. In doing so, he has given us some significant teaching on giving, tithing, and being generous with our resources. In verses 17-18, Paul lists several areas in which God is seeking to pour out his blessings upon those who give faithfully. And in the verses before that, he praises the Philippian church for being so consistent and persistent in their giving.

Finally, here, he wraps up this instruction on giving with an incredible statement: “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”

Though it seems simple, this short statement carries some significant truth about how God responds to our faithful giving.

God extends his personal care over you.

God has already made some decisions in heaven for us when he sees our hearts concerning giving. God has already decided some things that are going to affect you and me this week. Things that have to do with paying the bills. Things that have to do with caring for our families. Things that have to do with you and me being the kind of influence in the community that God wants us to be.

Memorize Scripture: Philippians 4:17-18

In the midst of Paul’s thankfulness for the financial support of the Philippians, he gives some incredible insight into God’s view of our giving.

Take a look at this passage in Philippians 4:17-18:

Philippians 4:17-18

Paul gives us a glimpse into the mind of God with these verses. When we give financially to support the message of the gospel, God notices. Paul shares some incredible information with the Philippian believers, and with us as well.

In verse 17, Paul showed the Philippians how their gifts were being credited to their heavenly accounts. Paul knew that this was happening, and he knows that the gifts you give will also be credited to your account. It’s a blessing that cannot be stored here on earth. And he knows that you are building up for yourself a treasure that can only be stored in heaven.

In this brief passage, Paul gives us five significant truths about our giving.

Memorize Scripture: Philippians 4:14-16

Paul returns to the main theme of this section of his letter to the Philippians, their financial gifts in support of Paul’s ministry.

Take a look at this passage for yourself in Philippians 4:14-16:

Philippians 4:14-16

In the previous verses, Paul has just explained how he has learned the secret to being content, no matter what the circumstances may be. As he returns to the theme of the Philippians’ gift to him, he lets his readers know that their gift is not necessary for his contentment. And yet it is still greatly appreciated.

Paul sees more than just a financial gift. He sees the Christlike behavior and attitude of the givers. Not only have the Philippians accepted the Lordship of Christ, they have bought into Paul’s vision of spreading the gospel around the world.

Paul makes it very clear in this passage that the Philippian church was the only one that supported him as he worked to spread the message of Christ. And they have done so more than just in this instance. More than once, when Paul was in Thessalonica, they sent financial gifts as well. And the did so earlier in Paul’s ministry, when he was leaving Macedonia.

The Philippian church has set themselves in the position of being a continual ministry partner with Paul’s missional efforts. Though they may not be able to go and preach, as Paul does, they can contribute by supporting him as much as they can.

Memorize Scripture: Philippians 4:12-13

In this passage, Paul explains how he has experienced the full range of having nothing to having plenty. He identifies a secret, and shares it with his readers.

You can see this passage for yourself in Philippians 4:12-13:

Philippians 4:12-13

Paul gives more details about the circumstances he shared in the previous couple of verses. He has learned two things. First, he knows what it feels like to be in need or to have plenty. And second, the secret of being content, no matter what the circumstances.

A brief survey of Paul’s life, found in 2 Corinthians 11, shows that Paul has experienced the full range of having nothing and having plenty. It is clear that he knows what he is talking about here.

One thing is well worth noting here: Paul’s sense of inner peace is very apparent. He almost seems as if none of this matters to him. And, in the grand scheme of things, it doesn’t.

Paul has learned something that few ever learn. He calls it a secret, a mystery that he has gained the key to. He has learned to be content in every circumstance.

This is something that few ever learn, and fewer still master, such as Paul did. In our culture, we do not understand how to be content very well. We always want something more, something new, something different. And we still think we “need” more. This is a very real struggle. We have learned to be very materialistic and we are never satisfied with what we have. We think we need more.

Dealing With Spiritual Dryness

What To Do When You Feel Like You’re In A Desert

One of the more difficult times we experience in our spiritual lives are those moments when we feel spiritually dry and drained. It almost feels like we are in a desert.

Spiritual Dryness

Spiritual dryness can be overwhelming at times. It can lead to feeling down and almost feel like depression. And we all experience it. It’s a fact of our spiritual lives. We enjoy the mountaintop experiences. But what do we do when we hit the lower places, the valleys, the deserts?

Sometimes, life just throws us a curve ball, and our lives take a pretty strong hit. A couple of years ago, my wife fell and broke an ankle while pregnant. Soon after, I was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea, followed by a diagnosis of cancer. It seemed like our world was turned upside down overnight, and we didn’t know what to do.

I felt like that time was one of the driest spiritual stretches I have ever encountered, and yet it was also a period of time where I experienced the most spiritual growth. It doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, I know. But looking back on that time, and the weeks and months following it, my journal is filled with ways that I can see God molding me into more of the person he wants me to be.