“[Today] is the first blank page in a 365-page book. Write a good one.” – Brad Paisley
The first step in writing a good book of your life is to start with the Good Book.
Everyone needs regular intake of God’s Word into their lives, shaping their values and virtues, molding their character into the image of Christ. Start this new year out right with a fresh beginning of systematically reading the Scriptures.
Go here http://christchurchlex.com/roadmap/ to find resources for reading the Scriptures daily. Also, I encourage you to read an excellent book on how Scripture is instrumental in spiritual growth: “Shaped by the Word: The Power of Scripture in Spiritual Formation,” by M. Robert Mulholland, Jr. This book continues to be vitally influential in my own faith journey. It is a great book! Add it to your list, and maybe move it to the top. It will help you integrate the Bible into your life so that you are open to God speaking in and through you every day.
Also, I know some people struggle with simply understanding the Scripture. So, I recommend using a Study Bible. These editions offer helpful notes on difficult passages and enable us to understand more fully what God is saying. Some particularly good ones are:
Good choices are: ESV Study Bible, NIV Study Bible, Wesley Study Bible, Life Application Study Bible, New Spirit-filled Life Bible, and for those who are more “academically” inclined, the New Oxford Annotated Bible.
These are all available on Amazon, Cokesbury, Christian book stores, and many secular book stores.
Here’s the deal: Get into the Word so the Word can get into you! If you do, it will be a good year!
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