How to Cultivate the Habit of Bible Reading

Our lives are filled with habits. Some are good; some are bad.

I googled the word “habit” and here’s how three dictionaries define it:

“A settled tendency or usual manner of behavior.” (Merriam-webster.com)
“Something that you do often and regularly.” (Dictionary.Cambridge.org)
“A usual way of behaving: something that a person does often in a regular and repeated way.” (Britannica.com)

Do you consider yourself a person who reads and studies the Bible habitually?

Is spending time in the presence of Jesus in sweet fellowship, listening to Him speak through His Word, your usual manner of behavior — something you do often, regularly, and repeatedly because of your love for Him and your desire to know and obey Him?

Cultivating a godly habit takes time and the power of the Holy Spirit.

And sometimes it can be as simple as following a written plan of action. This is why many Christians find a Bible reading plan helpful.

Of course, a Bible reading plan is not the sanctifying “magic pill” that will cure all that ails us spiritually. But it can be a useful tool.

I like these comments from Ivan Mesa of The Gospel Coalition:

“There is more to the Christian life than Bible reading but not less. Done well and consistently—even (or especially) when we don’t feel like doing it—the decision to regularly make time to commune with the Lord through his Word can powerfully shape our affections, convict us of sin, spur us toward evangelism, draw us closer to other believers, and more. In short, Bible reading can be a keystone habit in your life.”

Don’t let today’s date prevent you from starting the new habit of consistent Bible reading. It doesn’t matter whether it’s January 1 or January 7. Any day is a good day to make a new commitment to regular time in the Word.

When it comes to finding a good Bible reading plan, resources are abundantly available.

I’ve been using a New Testament 5-day-a-week plan from the Navigators for several years. You can download it free here:
https://connect.navigators.org/5x5x5

And here’s a 5-day-a-week plan that takes you through the entire Bible in a year.
https://www.fivedaybiblereading.com/

For an excellent article by Melissa Kruger on the benefits of these 5-day plans, visit:
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/melissa-kruger/my-favorite-bible-in-a-year-reading-plan-2/

How do you read the Word? I’d love to hear about it, so please leave a comment below and share how you go about spending time in the Word.

Have a God-saturated day!

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How to Become Like Christ in 2024


Have you given any thought to how you’ll become more like Jesus in 2024?

Christ-likeness or personal holiness or sanctification, however you like to say it, is what God wants to do in you and for you – today, tomorrow, and forever.

I love the way Paul describes the life-changing work of God in our lives:

“And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”
2 Corinthians 3:18 NIV

This verse is a source of much encouragement to me. When you stop and think about it, this is breathtaking: God is changing us to become more and more like Jesus. Whoa!

This transformation manifests itself in a variety of ways. It can happen suddenly, dramatically, and radically. And it can happen slowly, even imperceptibly, one tiny step at a time.

It affects us deeply, from the inner recesses of our hearts and minds to the visible behaviors and habits of everyday life.

But it happens! That’s the wonder of it. And this “it” is what God is doing when we “contemplate” (NIV) or “behold” (ESV) His glory.

God does the sanctifying while we do the contemplating and beholding. Ultimately, the transformation is His doing. Yet we do not sit by idly, twiddling our thumbs, doing nothing.

This brings me to the key question of this post: How do you contemplate and behold the glory of God?

Without contemplation of God’s character, there is no sanctification of our character. God changes us when we are looking intently at Him. And the best way I know to see Him clearly and accurately is to spend time in His Word.

If consistent and enjoyable Bible-time is already a habit for you, excellent! What I’ve written so far may therefore be a review of familiar territory. And for that, you should be thanking God. May 2024 be another year of quality time in the Word for you!

But when it comes to habitual Bible-time, if you’ve been struggling lately, I pray that God is convicting you even now of the need for a change – a change in your attitude and/or a change in behavior. I pray that with the New Year will come a new direction. Perhaps this means that you simply return to what you’ve done before but have gotten away from. Or it may mean that you need to do something you’ve never done before.

Regardless of your current situation, there are many resources available at GodWroteTheBook.com to help you either stay on track or get on track.

Here are a few suggestions:

  1. Do you lack motivation to read or study the Bible?
    Please immerse yourself in the Top Ten Reasons to Read the Bible Today. Here you’ll find several compelling benefits of regular time in the Word. If you’ve read this book before you may just need to read it again, perhaps more slowly, taking time to answer the questions that come at the end of each chapter.
  2. Are you new to Christianity and/or the Bible?
    I recommend Jesus: Who He Is, What He Did, and Why It Matters. This book takes you through John’s gospel, chapters 1-3, focusing on foundational truths of the faith.
  3. Are you looking for a deeper dive into the teachings of Scripture?
    Check out Jesus: Savior, King, Living Water. This is an in-depth study of John chapter 4.
  4. Do you need help simply reading and understanding the Bible?
    Here’s a book that can help: The Forgotten Bible Reading Method: How to Read and Understand the Bible in 5 Simple Steps. This is an explanation of the most overlooked Bible-reading method of all, the one that most Christians have never even tried.
  5. Do you like reading and studying the Psalms?
    You should check out How to Pray Like David. Volume 1 covers Psalms 1-41. Volume 2 covers Psalms 42-72.
  6. Do you wonder whether you are really a Christian?
    If you have little or no desire to spend time with God in His Word, could it be that you lack genuine saving faith? Why Bad People Go to Heaven and Good People Go to Hell was written with you in mind.

All the resources above are available for free in PDF format here:
https://payhip.com/GodWroteTheBook

These resources are also available on Amazon in Kindle and paperback formats here:
www.Amazon.com/author/waynedavies

NOTE: The books mentioned in #1 and #6 above are also free in Kindle format.

Happy New Year! And may God continue to sanctify all of us in 2024 “from one degree of glory to another” (2 Corinthians 3:18 ESV).

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Two Christmas Presents for You

For centuries the people of God have been celebrating the birth of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, with songs of joy.

In his gospel, Luke recorded three psalms, or songs, as an integral part of the story of Jesus’ birth:

 

Mary’s song – Luke 1:46-56
Zechariah’s song – Luke 1:67-79
Simeon’s song – Luke 2:28-32

We love to sing about the grace of God this time of year. Amen!

Like me, you probably have your favorite Christmas carols and it’s a wonderful time when we gather with our brothers and sisters to proclaim the goodness of God in Christ through the gift of music.

Keith and Kristyn Getty are two of my favorite Christian musicians, and they are offering a free download of Christmas music for your worship and enjoyment here:

https://www.gettymusic.com/essential-christmas-hymnal-download-page

Here’s what you’ll find at the above link:

GIFT #1: The Essential Christmas Hymnal
This is a 104-page PDF containing the sheet music for 29 hymns – complete with lyrics, piano music, and chords. The songs are a combination of traditional favorites (such as “Joy to the World,” “Silent Night,” “O Come All Ye Faithful”) along with newer Christmas songs written by Keith and Kristyn Getty.

GIFT #2: MP3’s of 29 Christmas songs recorded by the Getty’s
Most of these songs are from the hymnal above.

Enjoy! Merry Christmas to you!

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The Best Book Ever Written about Christmas

Christmas can be a time of meaningful reflection, God-exalting worship, and unspeakable joy.

And it can be a major distraction.

The choice is ours.

 

As the Christmas season continues, here are three ideas on how to focus on Jesus this week.

1. Read The Best Book ever written about Christmas.
This is perhaps the most obvious way to keep Christ in your Christmas. Go to the source. Fill your mind and heart with the great truths of the Christmas Story.

Here’s a simple 7-Day Christmas Bible Reading Plan that I’ve been using this week:
Day 1 – Matthew 1:18-25
Day 2 – Matthew 2:1-23
Day 3 – Luke 1:1-25
Day 4 – Luke 1:26-56
Day 5 – Luke 1:57-80
Day 6 – Luke 2:1-21
Day 7 – Luke 2:22-40

Ask these two questions of each passage:
What does this text teach about God (Father, Son, Spirit) and His dealings with people?
What is my response to these teachings?

Write down your thoughts on these two questions and then share them with someone. You can do these readings and writings individually or with your family or small group.

2. Read a good book about the birth of Christ.
Here’s one that I recommend. And you can’t beat the price.

The Dawning of Indestructible Joy: Daily Readings for Advent, by John Piper, is available as a free download here:
https://www.desiringgod.org/books/the-dawning-of-indestructible-joy

3. Listen to a good sermon about the coming of Christ.
Here are two sermons I’ve listened to recently:

Out of the Ivory Palaces, by R.C. Sproul
https://renewingyourmind.org/2023/12/16/out-of-the-ivory-palaces

Mary’s Revolution, by Ryan Cochran
https://godwrotethebook.com/marys-revolution/

Have a grace-filled week as we celebrate the birth of our Savior!

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Mary’s Revolution

I like to listen to a good sermon.

Here’s one I like so much, I’ve listened to it three times this week. It’s that good.

(Just scroll down to the bottom of this post to access the audio of the sermon.)

Actually, it’s better than good. It’s great.

 

The preacher is Ryan Cochran, Senior Pastor at Broadway Christian Church of Fort Wayne, Indiana, where my wife and I attend. He delivered this sermon on December 3, 2023.

The title is “Mary’s Lullaby Revolution.” (Yes, the word “lullaby” was removed from the title and replaced with the word “revolution.”)

Do yourself a huge favor and spend 24 minutes listening to this.

It’s a profound explanation of Mary’s song (aka “The Magnificat”) in Luke 1:46-55.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

  • Why the sermon title was changed from “Mary’s Lullaby” to “Mary’s Revolution.”
  • Why Mary “hurried” to spend three months of her pregnancy with Elizabeth.
  • Who God is for Mary and who God is for us.
  • What God is doing for Mary and what God is doing for us.
  • How we should respond to who God is and what He is doing.
  • How to tell the difference between a “good” Christmas song and a “bad” Christmas song.

Most importantly, you’ll learn why “Christianity is not about what we do, it’s about what God is doing” (Ryan Cochran).

You can listen to it here . . .

. . . and be blessed in the process. Enjoy!

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The Father of the English Bible

If you are an avid reader, do you ever treat yourself to a new book?

With the gift-giving season upon us, here’s a suggestion for a particular genre you might like: Christian biography.

Several years ago I started reading biographies of famous Christian leaders from the past. Here are some of the books I’ve read. I can wholeheartedly recommend every one of them because it’s exciting to see how God does amazing things through his people! And they make great Christmas gifts for yourself, a Christian friend, or your pastor.

The Gospel Focus of Charles Spurgeon
by Steven Lawson
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07B463BZV/

Susie: The Life and Legacy of Susannah Spurgeon, wife of Charles H. Spurgeon
by Ray Rhodes Jr.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078Z6FGYH/

A Short Life of Jonathan Edwards
by George Marsden
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B091J91BZD/

R.C. Sproul: A Life
by Steven Nichols
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1433544776/

The Daring Mission of William Tyndale
by Steven Lawson
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1567694357/

Do yourself a big favor and pick one of these titles to read. If you’re unfamiliar with any of these people, just Google them to find out who they are and why you will benefit by reading about them.

My favorite is The Daring Mission of William Tyndale. I started reading it recently for the third time. This is an inspiring account of the work of God to provide perseverance to a man of god. Tyndale is widely regarded as “the father of the English Bible” because he was the first to translate the entire New Testament and portions of the Old Testament from Greek and Hebrew into English. It cost him his life. Before you lay your head down tonight, thank God for William Tyndale.

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An Early Christmas Present for You

Christmas is still a few weeks away, but here’s an early present for you:

All 13 of my Christian books can be downloaded for free here:

https://payhip.com/GodWroteTheBook

Looking for good Bible study resources for yourself, your Small Group, or your church’s discipleship program? These books are ideal for that. The following titles include “Questions for Further Study, Reflection, and Discussion” at the end of each chapter:

  • Top 10 Reasons to Read the Bible Today (also free in Kindle format)
  • Jesus: Who He Is, What He Did, and Why It Matters (A Bible Study on John 1-3)
  • Jesus: Savior, King, Living Water (A Bible Study on John 4)
  • How to Pray Like David (Vol 1): A Bible Study on Psalms 1-41
  • How to Pray Like David (Vol 2): A Bible Study on Psalms 42-72

Two of my books are “workbooks” that provide space for you to write out your responses to the study questions and prayer prompts:

  • Sweeter Than Honey, More Precious Than Gold Workbook:
    A 22-Day Journey Through Psalm 119
  • A Self-Portrait of Christ:
    A Seven Week Bible Study on The I AM Statements of Jesus

And my latest book, Why Bad People Go To Heaven and Good People Go To Hell (also free in Kindle format), is an excellent evangelistic tool that provides a thorough explanation of the Gospel.

My books are also available on Amazon in Kindle and/or paperback formats, so now you can review the no-cost version first and then make an informed decision before purchasing the paperback or eBook version as a gift for yourself or someone else.

Feel free to pass on the link above to anyone you know who wants to spend quality time in the Word and enjoys straightforward Bible teaching to grow spiritually. Send it to your pastor or whoever handles the procurement of Bible study materials at your church. They may be looking for new resources as the new year approaches.

Have a truth-filled day!

Posted in Bible study, Christmas, Evangelism, Free Books & Other Resources, Gospel of John Bible Study, Jesus Christ, Salvation, Thoughts on the Psalms | Tagged , | Leave a comment

What Billy Graham Said About Thanksgiving

Thursday is Thanksgiving Day in the U.S.

According to Billy Graham, “For the Christian, every day is Thanksgiving Day.”

I like that quote, don’t you? I read it in an article on Biblegateway.com entitled “The Purpose of Thanksgiving.” There is some great Bible teaching here, so I commend it to you.

https://faithgateway.com/blogs/christian-books/purpose-thanksgiving

Here’s what you’ll find . . .

— Which American president started this holiday, and why.

— At least 10 God-exalting Bible verses about thanksgiving.

— 3 compelling questions:
How do you view the purpose of Thanksgiving?
How does your family give thanks to God?
How do you keep the focus of praise in your holiday tradition?

Feel free to share your thoughts on any (or all) of these questions by leaving a comment below.

To say I am thankful that I read this article is an understatement. My prayer for you and me is that we will cultivate a life of thanksgiving. As Matthew Henry wrote, “Thanksgiving is good but thanks-living is better.” (Another quote from this article.)

Have a thankful day!

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A Tribute to My Dad

It’s Veterans Day here in the U.S., so my thoughts turn to my earthly father, William (Bill) Davies.

He served in the Army in World War II. He was at the Battle of the Bulge, a five-week battle in December 1944 and January 1945. According to Wikipedia, this was “the largest and bloodiest single battle fought by the United States in World War II,” with at least 77,000 casualties and more than 8,600 deaths.

My father was fortunate to make it home alive. He was sent back to the U.S. with frozen feet and a Purple Heart.

He never talked about the war. My mother told me that he had nightmares for years.

My Dad died in 2010 at the age of 88. The older I get, the more thankful I am that he was my Dad. Today I’m realizing (again) how little I appreciated him when he was alive.

He was a quiet man. When it came to conversation, he was a minimalist, so when he did say something, it was usually significant.

I stuttered as a child, sometimes uncontrollably. Talking could be a huge challenge. My Dad did his best to help me overcome it.

He took me to a psychiatrist to figure out the cause. I don’t know how much those counseling sessions may have helped. But what I understand now is how much my Dad loved me. He took action in an attempt to make my life better.

He also would try to get me to relax about it, to even laugh at myself, which I refused to do.

We both liked sports, and he would take me to watch the local minor-league basketball team, the Wilmington (Delaware) Blue Bombers. I loved going to those games with him.

One night, on the way home after a game the Blue Bombers won in a thrilling comeback, I was so excited, I couldn’t say anything. This is known as “blocking,” and I was blocking on every word. The marbles in my mouth had become the Rock of Gibraltar.

I’ll never forget what my Dad said to me. “Wayne, how about you write me a letter when we get home?”

At the time, I didn’t get it. I just got mad at him. How could I laugh at what I hated?

Fifty-some years later, I finally get it. This was a wise and loving use of humor to get me to not take myself so seriously.

Another topic that my Dad didn’t talk much about was religion. He was raised in a Christian home, but after the war, he became an atheist. When I became a believer, he said to me, “After what I saw over there, you can’t tell me there’s a God.”

This is a common objection to the claims of Christianity. “If a loving God exists, why is there so much suffering in the world?”

But years later, when his health began to fail, I believe that God used my Dad’s mortality to soften his heart. I sent him a book about Christianity (One Heartbeat Away: Your Journey Into Eternity, by Mark Cahill). After he read it, he called me on the phone to tell me, “I think it’s time for a change. God is the Boss.” During his final days, he would ask my Mom to play an audio recording of the Bible, so he could listen to the Word of God.

I take comfort in these signs of spiritual life in my Dad.

I look forward to seeing him again one day. Should that happen, eternity will provide plenty of time to offer thanks to both my earthly father and my heavenly Father for their love.

Oh, how I miss him. Oh, how I wish I had thanked him more often for being my Dad.

Posted in Faith, Parenting | Tagged | 1 Comment

The Gospel According to Everyman

Since 2016 one of the most popular articles on my blog has been “How Many People Are In Hell?

Thousands of people have come to my website because of this post.

That fascinates me.

 

Obviously, people want to know more about hell. And for good reason, right? If the Bible is correct, we need to know what to do to avoid hell. That makes sense, doesn’t it?

Here’s what one person wrote in response to this article:

“This stuff makes absolutely no sense!!! Most people I know are decent, nice, loving, good, hard-working, noble, and dedicated to doing good. There is no way in “hell” they are going to burn in hell forever. The logic just doesn’t add up. That makes no sense at all. And there is more, of course: virgins do not have babies, miracles do not happen now so they didn’t happen then, animals don’t talk, the earth is way older than 6,000 years, and Christianity does not work…more nice people outside of church than in it…divorce rate the same for believers and unbelievers. Sorry, but your religion does not add up at all.”

Here are my thoughts before I ask you a few questions.

There’s a lot going on here. He’s upset that Christians like me write articles about the Bible’s teaching on hell. He vehemently disagrees with the traditional Christian view of eternal punishment, as well as any number of other biblical teachings, such as the virgin birth of Jesus and other miracles recorded in Scripture.

I am sympathetic to this man’s worldview because I was an atheist for many years. I know what it is like to be totally anti-God and anti-Christ, to want nothing to do with Christianity, and to ridicule and mock believers. What can we do to help people like this?

What do you make of these comments? If you had an opportunity to sit down with this individual and have a conversation with him, what would you say? What questions would you ask him?

Perhaps you have friends, co-workers, or family members who have this attitude toward the Bible. Do you ever discuss Christianity with them? If so, how do you go about it?

Let me know by leaving a comment below.

Finally, did you notice his explanation of what it takes to avoid hell?

“Most people I know are decent, nice, loving, good, hard-working, noble, and dedicated to doing good. There is no way in ‘hell’ they are going to burn in hell forever. The logic just doesn’t add up.”

Here we have a classic articulation of “The Gospel According to Every Man.” This is what most people believe – be good and do good, and my eternal destiny is sure to be heaven, not hell.

Millions (billions?) of people think this way. It’s why I wrote the book Why Bad People Go To Heaven and Good People Go To Hell.

I want to thank those who downloaded a free copy from Amazon last week. The book made it to #1 or #2 on the Amazon Best-Seller List in several categories:
— Christian Evangelism
— Jesus, the Gospels & Acts
— Christian Spiritual Growth
— 45-Minute Religion & Spirituality Short Reads

I continue to offer this book for free, so if you haven’t downloaded it yet, you can get your copy today if you CLICK HERE or visit:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CLLJPS3X

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