Tag Archives: Spiritual Growth

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Trying A New Bible Reading System

One of the things I am most passionate about is the need to spend time with God on a daily basis. I’ve compiled tips to help you be more consistent.  I’ve shared my “Gold Nugget” method of Bible study. And I’ve recently made available a PDF booklet that helps you to read through the entire Bible in a year, in a variety of different ways. Subscribe via email, and it’s yours for free.

This is one of the most important aspects of my life, and since I know it’s value, I can’t help but speak about it often.

Bible with Coffee

This year, however, I’m stepping up the intensity a notch, at least for me personally.

I’ve decided to try Professor Grant Horner’s Bible Reading System. The goal is to read ten chapters a day, totaling 3660 chapters of the Bible throughout 2012.

It’s a bit audacious, I know.

I first heard about this method of Bible reading over at TimChallies.com. But I’ve tweaked it a bit to suit my own tastes.

Here’s the basic idea:

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Memorize Scripture – Week 2

One of my favorite book in the Old Testament is Jeremiah. Some people think I’m crazy for that.

God makes some incredible promises to the Israelites through Jeremiah.

I understand that these promises were made to the ancient Israelites contextually. But God is a God who does not change. And many of the promises found here apply, or at least relate, to us today.

This week’s verse is no exception. You can find it in Jeremiah 24:7:

Jeremiah 24:7

Just like last week, the Bible continually tells us that the heart is key.

And I love the reference, which is completely cooincidental… or is it?  We are to love God 24/7.  I love it!

My prayer for myself and my family in 2012, at least in part, is that we may have a heart to know God more fully, more completely.

May you know Him this way as well.

How’s your heart for God? You can share your thoughts in the comments section below.

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Memorize Scripture – Week 1

Last year, I worked to memorize the entire Sermon on the Mount. The continuity was really amazing, and I was able to watch to see how each week built upon the previous ones.

This year, I want to take a different approach. I’ve identified several different passages that stand out to me and seem to be directed to my life. I want to memorize these in 2012.

The first one seems best suited to be a New Year’s verse. Take a look, it’s in Proverbs 4:23:

Proverbs 4:23

The heart is key. The Bible tells us over and over again that the state of the heart describes the state of our being.

It’s too easy in our media-saturated culture to allow the heart to be flooded with unnecessary and unhealthy junk.

The need to guard our heart is imperative.

For my family, that means we will reevaluate everything we watch and read, as a start. I know I need to watch out for my heart, but my kids don’t understand that fully yet. So Heather and I have to do that for them, teaching them the reason for it in the process. That may be somewhat of a challenge at first, but I’m convinced it will work out.

What do you do to guard your heart? You can share your thoughts in the comments section below.

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One Word 2012

Last year, I adopted a single word that would be my theme word for the year.

One word…

…to live by.
…to think by.
…to underscore everything I did.

One Word 365

That word was Passion.

I factored that word into everything I did. At least I tried to do that.

I think I did pretty good most of the year. There were times I forgot the word, times I neglected to have passion. And I don’t have a good excuse for it. I was just lazy.

Having passion takes work. And sometimes I didn’t feel like working.

Reflecting on the past year and my attempts to accomplish so much led me to see what this year’s word needs to be.

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Memorize Scripture in 2012

In 2011, I memorized the Sermon on the Mount. It went pretty well, although there were weeks where I struggled a bit.

However, I know Matthew 5, 6, and 7 better than I ever have before. And portions of those chapters come to mind all the time now, exactly when I need them.

That’s one of the benefits of memorizing Scripture.

Memorize Scripture In 2012

This year, I’m going to do it again. And I’d love to have you join me as well.

I went through my Bible and listed many of the key passages I underlined or highlighted last year. Most of these have made it onto the list of what I’d like to memorize this year.

It’s a pretty eclectic list, scattered all over the Bible, but there are some very meaningful passages in that list.

Here’s the idea: Grab an index card and a pen. Write the verse down on the card and stick in in your pocket, or in the car, or on your bathroom mirror, anyplace where you will see it often. Read it several times a day. By the end of the week, it will be memorized! Simple!

I will begin next week, on Sunday, with a verse from Proverbs that goes well with a new year’s effort .  Join me!

Do you regularly memorize Scripture? What benefits have you seen from it in your life? You can share your thoughts in the comments section below.

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2012 Bible Reading Plans

I am a firm believer in exposing my life to God’s Word on a daily basis. I believe that the benefits gained far exceed the cost of time and effort put into this discipline. When God has the opportunity to speak into our lives daily through his Word, we start to think more like Christ, act more like Christ, and see and treat others more like Christ would treat them.

Spending time in God’s Word daily is live-giving.

It’s spiritually healthy.

It’s incredible.

It’s essential.

Bible Reading Plan

This is a topic I’m not silent about. This is something I encourage the teens in our youth ministry about every week. I talk about it at home. I talk about it with friends and family. I believe it’s crucial.

In the past, I’ve written about the importance of daily Bible reading. I’ve compiled a list of tips to help you become more consistent in your Bible reading. I’ve shared some of my methods on getting the most out of your Bible reading. I’ve passed on information about how to keep your Bible reading from getting boring.  I’ve spent the entire year memorizing the Sermon on the Mount.

I’ve shared several great tools for this right here on JeffRandleman.com

And I have another one I’d like to share.