Down To The River To Pray

DOWN TO THE RIVER TO PRAY

“Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.” - Luke 3:21-22

Allison Krauss is credited for the popularity of the song, “Down To The River To Pray.” The song is believed to have been originally published in 1867. The Allison Krauss rendition of this song was used in the film, “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” The tune is used during a river baptism scene in the movie. To be honest, I've never seen this movie, just bits and pieces of it. What I've seen keeps me from recommending it to anyone.

When we think of the song, “Down To The River To Pray,” we typically visualize a river baptism, don't we? Yet the song doesn't specifically mention baptism. But prayer and baptism should go together. The Gospel of Luke records, “... that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened.” Jesus prayed at His baptism. It would be a memorable day for a number of reasons.

First all, it was a memorable day because the Son of God was baptized by John. What a tremendous honor! One of the highlights of my Christian life was the day I was baptized by my father. I was baptized in a creek on a Mother's Day. It was hot that day. In fact, I was nearly dried off by the heat before I got back in the car. It was a special day I won't forget. As a pastor, I've had the pleasure of baptizing converts. A few pastors can testify of celebrities that they have baptized, but I can't say that I've baptized any celebrities. To me, every person is special, whether they are well-known or not. Yet John had the distinct honor of baptizing the Savior of the world! Wow!

Secondly, it was a memorable day because the Holy Trinity made their presence known to the observers. The Son was baptized in Jordan, the Spirit came down like a dove and the Father spoke from heaven, affirming His Son. That was a special day!

Third, it was a great event because Jesus received verbal appreciation from His Father. It meant a lot to me when I received praise from my father. The Father was pleased with Jesus and let Him know it!

Fourth, it was a glorious day because John would give verbal testimony that Jesus is the Messiah. John had been sent as a forerunner for Jesus, preparing the way for the Lord. When Jesus came to the baptismal waters, it was John that proclaimed, “Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world.” John had promised that the Messiah was coming. Now He was blessed to recognize and testify of the Lord's arrival. John's ministry had led to this pinnacle event of identifying the Son of God.

Next, it was memorable because Jesus was identifying with John's message. John had preached a strong message about sin. He had been proclaiming that the Messiah was coming. John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. Obviously, Jesus did not need to repent, but He was aligning Himself with the core message of John.

Also, Jesus was bold enough to pray in front of others. Yes, others were watching. In fact, two of the men who witnessed His baptism would become His disciples.

Finally, it was a special event because Jesus' ministry seemed to kick into high gear after His baptism. The baptism of Jesus seemed to be the launching point of His preaching ministry. Soon thereafter, the ministry of Jesus seemed to explode with growth, while John's ministry diminished.

Yet at this special event, Jesus prayed. Again, we have no record about the content of His prayer. We suspect that it was a brief prayer, but there is little said about its duration. We just know that Jesus spoke to His Father and His Father responded.

Sometimes we have special moments in our lives that seem so glorious to us. It would be easy to be caught up in the moment and forget to pray. Jesus gives us an example that we need to apply personally. When the mountain peak events occur, never forget to thank God for them. Be engaged in prayer even when things are going great.

Have you ever noticed that a momentous occasion is typically followed by great adversity? That would be the case for Jesus, too. Right after His baptism, He faced the tempter in the mountain. We should remain in prayer during the peak moments of life, knowing that the enemy is ready to attack at any moment.

Every event in life should be bathed in prayer. Every location can be a special place of prayer. There is not a bad place or time to pray.

In fact, it's a good time to pray right now.

Learning From An Expert

LEARNING FROM AN EXPERT

“And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.” - Luke 11:1

I am not an expert on any subject. I am more of a dabbler. I dabble in this and I dabble in that. I know a little about several things, but I'm an expert at none of them. There is not a long line of people waiting at my door, asking for my advice. I will never be an old sage that grows a beard and sits on a hilltop as pilgrims come to learn from my vast knowledge and worldly wisdom.

There are experts in our world. These are individuals who've taken a subject and have become so proficient that millions admire them and seek to learn from them. John Maxwell, for instance, heard that if you studied a subject one hour a day for five consecutive years, you'd become an expert in that field. He applied himself to learn about leadership for five years. Today, he is considered a leadership guru. His books on the subject have sold millions.

Many athletes, actors and musicians fall into the category of experts. Yet it is important to learn the right subject from these experts. For instance, it wouldn't be wise to learn about basketball from Warren Buffet or finances from Michael Jordan. If you reversed the roles, you'd find them to be very proficient in their field of expertise.

When it comes to the subject of prayer, I find that a lot of Christians are dabblers, but few are experts. In fact, the best prayer warrior would probably admit that prayer continues to be a work in progress. We are all still learning about this subject. I heard of a preacher who was approached by someone wishing to conduct a seminar about prayer. The preacher was asked if he knew an expert on the subject who'd be willing to talk about it. The old preacher rubbed his chin and responded, “Well, there are people who pray and don't talk about it and those who talk about it but don't pray, so no, I can't recommend anyone.”

There's some truth in that, isn't there? The best prayer warriors would rather keep certain aspects of their prayer-life private. There are some things that are too personal and holy to talk about. On the other hand, there are many who are anxious to be interviewed about the subject. Yet if the details of their daily quiet time were exposed, we'd learn that their prayer-life is rather deficient.

Perhaps you know someone that seems to be a mighty prayer warrior. When you hear them pray, you feel like you are transported to the throne room of heaven. When I was growing up, we had a dear man in our community that seemed rather shy. His name was Virgil Lambert. He rarely spoke. God radically changed his life and he eventually became a deacon at our church. Even though he remained rather quiet and shy, he had great wisdom and was a bold witness for Christ. Often, he would be called upon to lead the congregation in prayer. That old man would weep and pray with great sincerity. Many times the peak moment of a church service was his prayer. He has since gone to glory. I still miss him. We need more men like him.

Yet when it comes to the subject of prayer, there is an expert we can learn from today. His Name is Jesus. His prayers inspired His disciples so much that they asked Him to teach them how to pray.

The disciples never asked Jesus to teach them to heal. They didn't request a seminar on how to cast out demons. Neither did they request a teaching session on preaching. Instead, they asked Him to teach about prayer.

Why did they request Jesus to teach them about prayer? First, they were a little jealous that John the Baptist taught his disciples and Jesus hadn't taught them yet. Secondly, Jesus had modeled prayer to them. They knew He spent time talking with His Father. The best teacher is the one who first of all models the subject to his students. That was certainly the case for our Lord.

Fortunately, we are blessed with a copy of the Scriptures. In the pages of the four Gospels, we learn about Jesus and prayer. We are taught about His example. He modeled prayer in a very practical way. Also, we learn from the lessons He taught. He taught His followers to pray.

Lord willing, in the coming weeks, I hope to write about the prayer-life of Jesus. Additionally, I hope we'll learn some things from the lessons He taught.

Most of all, I hope all of us will learn to pray like Jesus did.

Motives Matter

MOTIVES MATTER

“Doth Job fear God for nought?” - Job 1:9

The text for this message is a question posed by the devil. Our enemy is a liar. He is the accuser of the brethren. Job was the most righteous man of his time, yet the devil accused him of having flawed motives.

Here's the full accusation of the devil: “Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.” Basically, the devil was saying that the reason Job was serving God was to continue receiving the Lord's blessings. In other words, Job was using God to get what he wanted. According to the devil, Job's worship and service were not provided out of love or sincerity, but with an ulterior motive.

Of course, God knew Job's motives. Ultimately Job's motives were tested through great adversity and suffering.

What about us? Are we guilty of serving God for the wrong reason? Do we serve God simply to get a good medical report, a promotion at work or a financial windfall?

Also, do we use this line of thinking when we share the Gospel with others? While giving a Gospel invitation, it would be easy to stress only the positive aspects of Christianity. When we preach that salvation is a gift of God (and it is!), do we avoid mentioning the fact that Jesus expects us to carry a cross? Do we neglect talking about potential persecution or trials? While seeking to win souls, we can be like a salesman who wants to make a sale by only pointing out the positive qualities of his product, but refusing to tell about anything negative.

It is true that Christianity has many positive aspects. But do we really wish to portray Christianity as a get-out-of-hell-free card? Do we want to preach that salvation is solely a fire insurance policy that keeps people from hell?

When you ask a person if he wants to go to heaven, he'll probably say, "yes."  Yet our evangelism needs to go deeper than that. In fact, our own faith needs to be stronger than that. Most people want to go to heaven only because it is better than the alternative. If the truth is known, they want a heaven without God there.

If the devil accused us of having bad motives, would he be accurate? Do we use prayer just to get our own desires? Are we trying to use God to get what we want?

If we are brutally honest, we'd have to confess that, even at our best, a small degree of selfishness taints our motives. For some, selfishness is an egregious sin that strongly permeates all their attitudes and actions.

So why should we fear God? Why should should we love Him? Why should we serve the Lord?

First of all, we should fear God because He is God. I know that doesn't sound very profound … but it really is. We should fear and worship God because of who He is.

Secondly, we should love the Lord because we are commanded to. Jesus said that the greatest commandment of all is to love the Lord your God. The Bible says that we love Him because He first loved us.

Third, we should serve God because that is why were created. Our true purpose in life is to know and serve God. Revelation 4:11 teaches us that all things (including us) were created for His pleasure. We were created to serve the Lord.

Finally, we should get serious about the Lord because judgment is ahead for each of us. Our path will ultimately lead to the judgment seat. I get nervous when I receive medical test results. I tend to be anxious anytime I take a test. If I am ever questioned by someone of authority, I'm sure I will be rather apprehensive --- simply because of their authority. What about standing before God? We'll face our words, deeds and even our thoughts on that day. That's serious, isn't it?

Yes, God has blessed us. He continues to bless us. We should give continual thanks for each and every blessing. The blessings we've received give us extra reasons to love and serve Him, but we should never get distracted by them. God is not a means to an end. We don't serve Him only to be blessed or get something we want. We serve Him because of who He is and we thank Him for all He's done.

Satan's accusation against Job turned out to be false. If the devil made the same accusation against you, would he be telling the truth or uttering a lie?

Ice Fishing

 ICE FISHING

“I will make you fishers of men.” - Matthew 4:19

I don't like the winter weather. I'm not a fan of the cold days and frigid nights. I'd prefer to avoid the icy, snowy roads. I don't enjoy cleaning snow from the porch and cars. I don't get excited to hear of a massive snow storm coming my way. I yearn for spring time. I long for warmer days. I want to see the sunshine dominate the day.

In Genesis 8:22, the Bible says, “While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.” Yes, winter is part of God's plan for us. While we may enjoy the warm weather, we are expected to live and thrive … even in the winter months.

At church, we are tempted to think that we are in survival mode during the winter months. We don't expect God to do great things when snow is falling. We don't think revival is possible when the temperature falls below 32-degrees. We schedule revivals for the other seasons, not winter. We plan special church events during the warmer months, not during these cold months.

For a serious fisherman, the weather is not a deterrent. In fact, in some of the northern states, fishermen will go fishing out on a frozen pond. They will put up down a chair or perhaps a tent, cut through the solid ice and put a fishing line into the water. It is called ice fishing. Yes, fish are caught in this environment.

Spiritually, we need to be ice fishing. Yes, these are cold months, but spiritually, we are living in a cold world. Most people are cold and indifferent to the Gospel. Some are even hostile to Christianity. We tend to get an icy reception from people with cold hearts. Yet we are still called to fish for men. We are called to do some ice fishing.

Personally, I'd rather wait till spring weather to fish, but there are many reasons to fish, even in these icy times.

First of all, we need to go ice fishing because the Lord has called us to fish. We are not told to only fish in the good times. We are to fish all the times. We should obey God regardless of the circumstances. Good weather or bad weather. During snow or sunshine. Yes, fish on the warm days. But also go ice fishing during the cold days. Regardless of the cold nature of our society, keep fishing. The Gospel is unpopular, but it is needed now more than ever.

Secondly, we need to go ice fishing because of the plight of the unsaved. Death does not wait for good weather. Many will perish during these cold months. I head the true story of a preacher who tried to win his father to Jesus. His father finally promised that he'd get saved and baptized when spring would come. Unfortunately, he died that winter. We can't wait for good weather. Souls need Jesus today. Don't wait for the Gospel to become popular or trendy, be faithful and fish the icy pond that God has placed you near.

Also, we need to go ice fishing because of the power of the Gospel. The Gospel is just as powerful in February as it is in July. The Gospel is just as powerful on a cold day as a warm day. Charles Spurgeon was converted on a cold, snowy day. The weather was so bad that the pastor did not come. A deacon stood and brought a message & Spurgeon was converted. Spurgeon would go on to become a great pastor in London. Perhaps someone reading this message can testify that you were converted in the middle of winter. God's grace is just as available in the winter as it is in the spring. God still saves souls. He is not a fair-weather Savior. Spiritually, we are living in a frigid winter. The world hates the Lord and us. Yet this is the exact situation that requires ice fishing.

Next, our passion to see souls saved should not diminish simply because the winter weather is here. Do you seriously long to see people saved … only in the warm weather? I am thrilled to hear of a conversion at any time. Our passion should be just as real in these winter months as other months. Who knows, you may be one conversation away from leading someone to Jesus … right now!

Finally, God has provided all we need to fish for men. Ice fishing may not be popular, but it still can be effective. We have the Holy Spirit, the Bible, and the local church. These provisions are available right now, not just in the popular warm seasons. He has provided us open doors. Sometimes they will come during a phone conversation. At other times, they will come in person, perhaps at work, the store or the gas pump.

Yes, our society is cold about spiritual matters. Many will give an icy response to our message. The first century was a spiritually cold time, too, yet the early church passionately spread the Gospel. They were successful at ice fishing!

Life does not stop when winter weather arrives. Evangelism should not stop because the spiritual thermostat of this world is near a record low temperature.

Grab your fishing pole and let's go ice fishing!

Generous To A Fault

GENEROUS TO A FAULT

“God loveth a cheerful giver.” - 2 Corinthians 9:7

Stinginess and selfishness are part of our fallen nature. We are born stingy. As little children, we wanted our own toys and we didn't want to share them with others. As adults, we've learned to share somewhat, but selfishness still has a strong grip that only the Lord can break.

When the subject of generosity is brought up, many think of the money-hungry televangelists who try to manipulate viewers into giving sacrificially to their ministry, while the televangelist wears expensive clothes and lives in a mansion. Certainly, the subject of giving has been abused severely but such men. They misrepresent God and His message. Sadly, these people are the only Christian influence that many unbelievers know.

Although such men abuse the generosity of well-meaning people, it does not change the fact that God expects His children to be generous. Obviously, we need to exercise a degree of discernment as we give. Not every “minister” on the internet is really deserving of our money.

Yet there is a world of tremendous need all around us. Many hurting people are yearning for someone to help them. As we go about the hustle and bustle of daily life, we need to vigilant about such needs.

The Bible says that the Lord loves a cheerful giver. Does that describe us? Do we give lovingly or grudgingly? Are we faithful to give to our local church? Are we compassionate by helping others who are in need?

For the Christian, the issue of giving is rooted in a fundamental truth: Jesus is Lord. Jesus is more than just Lord of my salvation. He is Lord of all. This includes my finances. In reality, everything really belongs to Him. He freely gave us the riches and resources we enjoy. He gave us a job. He provided us with provisions every day. He is the source of all our blessings. We owe Him everything.

As believers, we claim to be changed by the grace of God. Yet this grace should transform us into being agents of grace ourselves. Because of God's grace, we should act with grace when it comes to people around us. That includes forgiving those who've hurt or offended us. We give to others out of gratitude for the fact that God has given to us.

Generosity is a holy habit that Christians need to embrace. In a world of stinginess and selfishness, we are called to be different. We are called to be givers. Shouldn't Christians lead the way when it comes to giving? Shouldn't the most generous people in your community be those who know the Lord?

Generosity is not an issue of the wallet, but of the heart. You don't need money to be generous. You just need a generous heart.

Generosity goes further than than financial giving. Certainly, we should give of our treasures, but we should also give of our time and talents. Visiting the sick in the hospital and the elderly in a nursing home can be act of generosity. Serving in a soup kitchen or helping a widow with home repairs can be a means of giving. There's no shortage of need, but there is a shortage of those willing to help.

Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Do we really believe this truth? If so, does our actions back up this belief?

Let me be very clear. I do not believe in the “prosperity gospel,” that many TV preachers falsely proclaim. However, I believe there are special blessings that generous people enjoy that others don't. The type of blessings may vary from person to person. God is ultimately in control of this and chooses to bless people according to His will. It is more blessed to give than to receive.

The holy habit of generosity is one that we should cultivate. First of all, we should plan, in advance, to give to our local church. That is a priority for believers. Secondly, we should be watchful about needs around us. 1 John 3:17 says: “But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?” Finally, we can give to ministries and charities that we love and trust. There are no shortages of good causes to give to.

We have just a short time to live here on earth. God has invested heavily in my life. Others have, too. When it comes time for me to die, I can't take any money or possessions with me. In the time I have left, I want to be faithful to the Lord. With the resources God has given me, I want to invest in the things that matter most. I want to be generous to a fault.

What about you?

Storing Treasures

STORING TREASURES

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” - Psalm 119:11

When a person accumulates worldly treasures, he tends to hide them away. For security reasons, he will hide his precious gems, stocks and valuable documents in a safe, lock-box or a bank's safety deposit box. Our money is hidden in checking and savings accounts rather than under a bed.

Jesus instructed believers to store treasures in heaven. Our treasures are eternally secure there. Thieves, robbers and the government can't touch our treasures in heaven. God is keeping them safe. As believers, we should be living to store as many treasures as possible in heaven. There is no tax on this investment. Be wise and invest in eternal treasures.

Yet there is an unexpected treasure we can enjoy here on earth. God's Word is a wealth of information that has intrinsic value. The value of God's Word can't be estimated. It is one thing to own this treasure, it is another thing to be enriched daily by it.

I believe that when we memorize Scripture, we are storing a treasure in our memory bank. When I was young, I filled my memory with useless information, such as ball scores and meaningless data. Now that I am older (and hopefully, wiser), I want to store something better and more valuable in my memory. Far too many are storing wrong things in their mind. They'll remember a wrong done to them and meditate on this offense for decades. Others will concentrate on anxious thoughts that drains their energy. There are some who fill their minds with ungodly images, leading them into a deep pit of iniquity.

I realize that when I mention Scripture memorization, many will raise an objection about having a faulty memory. Welcome to the club. All of us struggle in this area. As we get older, it is more difficult to memorize Scripture than it was when we were younger.

Yet this venture is worth the work. Scripture memorization is a holy habit we need to invest in. It is an investment. Monetarily, we know that an investment is the act of putting money into an account that is designed to pay a profitable dividend over a long period of time. The same is true of Scripture memorization. We invest our time and effort into the hard work of memorizing Scripture, so that in the long run, we will have a database of God's Word locked into our memory, ready to be retrieved at any time.

How can we make the daily investment of storing this treasure in our hearts?

First of all, select the Scripture you wish to memorize. Start with something small, like a verse or two. Ultimately, you will want to expand your list to included passages and even chapters.

Secondly, set a time each day just for this project. It may be five minutes, ten minutes or more. Be sure to set a time and keep it.

Next, get a plan to memorize and review. Over the years, I've gleaned several ideas from others. The Navigators, for instance, have a Scripture Memorization package that can be purchased. Here are a few books that I recommend: “A Call To Scripture Memory,” by Susan Heck, “His Word in My Heart,” by Janet Pope, “How to Memorize Scripture For Life,” by Andrew Davis, and “Memorize What Matters,” by Josh Summers. You can find these selections on Amazon.com.

Also, share your goals with a partner and review what you've memorized. Speaking the Word aloud is a powerful experience. As you share your progress and struggles with a Christian friend, you get the support you need for long-term success.

Finally, Scripture memorization is a long-term project. Don't expect overnight success. When you invest money in a 401k or a mutual fund, you expect positive results over a long period of time. There will be bumps in the road. This is to be expect with financial investments, but it should also be expected when we store God's Word in our hearts.

Storing Scripture in your memory bank is a great investment that pays great dividends. It is a treasure beyond value.

Store this treasure in your heart beginning today. 

Birds Of A Feather Flock Together

 BIRDS OF A FEATHER FLOCK TOGETHER

“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” - Matthew 18:20

I must confess that winter is my least favorite season of the year. It is cold, snowy and dreary much of the time. Even though the days are shorter in duration, they seem much longer to me. Personally, I love spring weather. I love to see the trees budding, the flowers coming to life and birds returning.

One of the things I love about country life is hearing the birds sing. In particular, I enjoy hearing a whippoorwill at night. Typically, they are more common in the summer than any other time. These night birds have a distinctive sound and can be very loud.

I confess that I am not a bird watcher, but I do know that birds tend to flock together. The title of this blog message comes from an old English proverb. The proverb, “Birds of a feather flock together,” is used to express the fact that beings of a similar type tend to associate with each other.

This proverb should really describe Christians. Christians should have an internal desire to associate with other believers. God has designed the local church for such a gathering. As members of the same spiritual family, we should enjoy spending time with our brothers and sisters in Christ.

In years gone by, the devil has tried to destroy the church. Since that didn't work, he has sought to weaken the church by pulling believers apart. You see, birds are more vulnerable when they get away from the flock. These days, the devil has been clever. He has drawn people away from church, using worldly pleasures to lure them away from the place they should be. Suddenly, lesser important items like shopping, hobbies and the internet have replaced public worship. Instead of flocking together, the saints have become scattered and weakened by these outside interests.

Yet God has called believers to assemble regularly and worship publicly. Despite the many voices that condone church absence, genuine revival cannot occur apart from believers returning to the local church.

Public worship is a holy habit that we need to restore in America. Yes, it is easy to sit at home and watch a TV or internet preacher, but that is not a substitute for public worship.

Since the end of the Covid-19 year, most businesses have been stressing the need for workers to return to the office. While working at home was necessary during the early days of the pandemic, those days are over. Sadly, many employers are having to take drastic steps to get employees back to the office. The same is true at church. Online church services served a purpose, but they were never intended to replace in-person worship.

Believers need to beware of the enemy's strategy. The devil wants people to stay away from church. He loves to see churches struggle. He wants to see churches close their doors. He is eager to destroy every church he can.

Yet many believers are unknowingly being used of the enemy for destructive purposes. While they excuse their absence from church, they don't realize that the devil is smiling when they do. It is tragic that church members are pawns in the devil's hand, used to destroy local churches.

Furthermore, this hits at the very heart of God. Our Lord loves the church and died for the church. Shouldn't we love what He loves? If so, our actions should reflect this.

I am old enough to remember 8-track tapes. When I was very young, my family often traveled from church to church as my father ministered. While traveling, we would often listen to 8-track tapes of southern Gospel music. Back then, one of my favorite songs was by the Swanee River Boys and was entitled, “Don't Wait For the Hearse To Take You To Church.” The title still rings true today. The only time some church members ever attend is for a wedding or a funeral. For some, the only thing that will get them to church is their own funeral.

If you lack a desire to go to church, it is time to examine your heart. God designed the church for His people to assemble together. The local church is a place for encouragement, ministry, hearing the Word preached, participation in the ordinances and much more. There is no substitute for the local church. There is no substitute for obedience, either.

Quit making excuses. Make it a point to go to church this Sunday.

Birds of a feather flock together.

Pray

 PRAY

“Pray without ceasing.” - 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Prayer is probably the most underestimated resource available to God's people. We are often guilty of treating prayer as just another line in the church bulletin or an activity reserved for super saints. Just like a spare tire, we want to have prayer available to us should an emergency arise.

Every professing Christian would admit that prayer is important. If pressed, we would state that we pray ourselves. Yet do we pray like we should? How important is prayer to you?

Prayer is simply our conversation with the Lord. We demonstrate our need for Him when we pray. The fabric of our fellowship with God is strengthened when we pray. Prayer keeps our hearts connected to God's power. Prayer deepens our faith and strengthens our courage. Prayer opens the door to special blessings God reserves for those who ask for them.

The late Leonard Ravenhill often said, “No man is greater than his prayer life.” I've come to appreciate the accuracy of this statement. A man's greatness is not determined by the money he possesses, the power he seems to yield or the elite crowd he associates with. In reality, the greatness of a man's life is really gauged by what or who he worships. It is not the man, but God, who is great. It is amazing to know that such a great God would choose to dwell within the heart of a mortal man.

Along with reading the Bible daily, prayer ranks as the most important holy habit that a Christian should practice. While prayer is a spiritual discipline, it is also a blessing and a privilege. To think that a beggar like myself can come to the very throne of God and have His attention is an amazing truth. Through Jesus Christ, we have such a blessing.

Most would consider it an honor to have access to the President on certain occasions. Yet we have a privilege that is far greater than that. At any moment, we are welcome to come into God's presence. Through the blood of Christ, we have been adopted into the family of God. We are the children of God. Children do not need an engraved invitation to speak with their father. Neither do we. As His children, we can approach our heavenly Father any time, any day.

Prayer should be a holy habit for every believer. Let me encourage you to pray daily.

First of all, set a time for prayer each day. It is best to have a time of prayer early in the day. We need God all day, so start the day with Him.

Secondly, if you it is physically possible, get on your knees and pray. I think kneeling is a great posture for prayer. Obviously, you can pray as you walk, drive or sit, but kneeling is special because it is an act of humility. Even better, get on your face before God. Many saints have fallen prostrate before God when they pray. Such a position reminds us how small we are before such a mighty God. We are reminded that we are just dust.

Next, keep a prayer list. Have a list of people to pray for. I can't rely on my memory when it comes to the needs around me. Adrian Rogers was famous for saying, “The weakest ink is better than the strongest memory.”

Also, begin your time of prayer in worship and praise. It is great to remember how great He really is. Worship keeps our vision clear. When we praise God, we recall that He is much greater than all our problems.

Never forget to give thanks when you pray. Gratitude is a key ingredient in a fulfilling prayer-life. God has never ceased to bless you, so never cease in thanking Him.

If you are like me, there are times when it is difficult getting started in prayer. I have found that reciting Scripture or singing a hymn really helps in this area. An old saint once said, “When you don't feel like praying, pray until you feel like it, then pray more.”

Finally, keep a record of answered prayers. This list will encourage you to pray in the future. Whether it was an answer to a big prayer or small one, such a list will increase your gratitude and enlarge your faith.

If you have no one else to pray for, pray for me. The older I get, the more I identify with James D. Vaughan's old song, “I Need The Prayers of Those I Love.”

God still hears and answers prayers. It could be that you are one prayer away from receiving an answer.

So pray!

Read The Word Daily

 READ THE WORD DAILY

“But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.” - Psalm 1:2

I eat at least three meals every day. What about you? Sure, I have missed a meal once in a while, but I rarely miss eating for an entire day. Eating is necessary to survive. But I also love to eat. I enjoy good food, especially home cooked food.

While I make it a point to eat daily, I also make it a point to feed my soul daily. Every morning, I begin my day by reading from the Bible. This is a holy habit I have practiced for several years.

Although I pastor a church, my daily Bible reading is not for sermon preparation. It is for my own edification.

Ray Comfort is noted for asking members of a church audience to raise their hand if they have read their Bible daily for the last seven days. Most of the time, the response is that less than half the congregation would raise their hand. I did this while visiting another church one time and got similar results. After receiving such a dismal response to his question, Ray Comfort was quick to remind his audience that they feed their stomachs daily without fail. How much more important it is to feed the soul! Many are starving spiritually while a Bible collects dust nearby.

While it is good to be spiritually fed at church on Sunday, there are six other days when you need soul food. Don't go hungry!

The reason many people do not practice the holy habit of daily Bible reading is that they “can't find the time for it.” We find time for the things that matter most to us. Time with the Lord in His Word is too important to leave for “spare time.” We must prioritize this habit so it becomes a critical part of our day.

With that being said, here are a few suggestions.

USE A GOOD BIBLE

First of all, get yourself a good, easy-to-read Bible. This is very important. The older I get, the more I need a large print Bible. I am using a extra-large print KJV Bible published by Thomas Nelson. I don't think it is being sold right now. It is a text Bible, not a study Bible. Most individuals rush to a store to purchase a study Bible from their favorite TV or internet minister. Personally, I own several study Bibles, but I have found that a plain text Bible is best for me. I have the study Bibles and commentaries to refer to when I need them, but for reading purposes, I don't want to be distracted by the notes that are provided additionally. I want to read just the words of the text. For those who stay with small print Bibles, be warned that the small print will eventually be an excuse not to read it at all.

Also, if you are going to purchase a Bible, make sure it has a lasting binding. Although it costs more than the cheap Bibles readily available in stores, get a genuine leather binding. Bonded leather tends to chip around the edges in just a few years. Most of the time, genuine leather last much longer and still looks good after age.

Last year, I purchased a premium Bible. It had an expensive leather binding. It is a good Bible, but the print was smaller than my old Bible and its overall size was larger. I am staying with my older Thomas Nelson Bible.

GET A PLAN

Next, get a reading plan. Reading plans are abundant online for free. Find one that fits your situation and use it daily. If you read just one chapter a day, you can read the entire New Testament in less than a year. If you read 3-4 chapters a day, you can finish the entire Bible in a year. Some Bibles actually have a reading plan in the back. It is better than to have some kind of plan rather than just opening the Bible at random and trying to read.

SET A TIME

Next, set a time each day to read. I often read from the Bible before I even get out of bed. Take your Bible to the restroom with you, if necessary. Make it a point to have a time set. In addition to the Bible I keep by my bed, I also keep a copy in my car and a copy in my desk at work. I don't want to go anywhere without my Sword nearby.

DON'T MAKE EXCEPTIONS

Make an appointment to meet with God every morning. We tend to keep the appointments we make. There is no greater appointment than meeting with the Lord.

DON'T GIVE UP

There will be times it will be tempting to give up, especially if you're trying to read the book of Leviticus! Yet press on. Don't quit. It will be worth it.

Spend time in the Word daily, beginning today!

Holy Habits

HOLY HABITS

“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” - Galatians 6:7

We are creatures of habit. Some habits are good, such as washing your hands before meals and brushing your teeth twice a day. But many of our habits are actually unhealthy and counterproductive. If it is your habit to eat two helpings at every meal, this habit will bring about health issues that are bad and dangerous.

I have to admit that there are habits I need to change. For instance, I tend to overeat at times. But when I have homemade biscuits and gravy placed before me, I usually get more than one helping! In hindsight, this isn't very healthy, but it sure tastes good!

Spiritually, there are habits we should apply if we are serious about our spiritual growth. While some would call these, “spiritual disciplines,” I prefer to call them holy habits.

Now that we are in a new year, I suggest that we examine our lives and honestly appraise the habits we've grown accustomed to. Are our habits healthy or not? Do we have any holy habits? What habits do we need in our lives?

I believe there are certain habits we need to integrate into our lives. If you are an older, mature believer, you are probably practicing most of these habits already. For new believers, you should seek to implement them in your life as soon as possible.

READ THE WORD DAILY

One holy habit every Christian should cultivate is the discipline of reading the Bible daily. There are numerous reading plans available online. Whether you intend to read through the entire Bible this year or just the New Testament, make sure you are reading the Word of God daily. Don't skip a day here or there. In fact, read the Word before you greet the day. Eventually, this habit will become second nature to you.

PRAY DAILY

Here is another simple, yet powerful habit that every believer needs to implement. Pray daily. Far too many people only pray when they get into trouble or face a fearful situation. Prayer is vital to enjoying fellowship with God. The habits of Bible reading and prayer should go together. We talk to God in prayer and He talks to us from His Word.

WORSHIP PUBLICLY

Here's another simple, holy habit. Attend church on a regular basis. Don't just show up when you feel spiritual. Get plugged into a good, Bible-teaching, Bible-preaching church. Experience the loving fellowship of believers. Be a faithful member of a good church.

MEMORIZE SCRIPTURE

I know that this holy habit will scare many away, yet it is a powerful habit that can transform your life. Store Scripture in your memory. Whether it is a few verses or actual chapters, meditate on the Word and memorize the verse(s), chapters and Bible books that feed your soul. Far too many people concentrate on the finished product (being able to recite passages or chapters). The key is to be fed during the process of memorization. Memorization requires a deep dive into Biblical meditation. Here's the real reason many struggle with Scripture memorization. The process requires time. You must set aside time to memorize new verses and recite old ones. Yet if you invest time in this habit, it will pay great dividends in the future.

GIVING

Most churches take up an offering at every service. Giving is a popular sermon topic, especially for pastors who are involved in budgetary concerns. Yet giving goes deeper than the weekly offering at church. As Christians, we should be generous people. While we have an obligation to faithfully give to our local church, there are other ministries that we may prayerfully consider giving to. By the way, be generous when you give a tip at a restaurant. Give without fanfare or a desire to be noticed or repaid. Generosity is more an issue of your heart than it is your wallet.

I have given you just a few holy habits to consider for this new year. Ralph Waldo Emerson is credited for saying: “Sow a thought, and you reap an action; sow an act, and you reap a habit; sow a habit, and you reap a character; sow a character, and you reap a destiny.”

I want to be a better Christian in 2025 than I was in 2024, what about you?