PRAYER AND BIBLE READING

 “Meditating often on the magnitude of God's goodness teaches us to rejoice even in times of trouble.

Read your Bible. Perhaps you say, "Oh, but I do read God's Word." Then read it more! The Word shows your graces a perfect picture of the object of their affections-- Christ. And just as a young man's heart leaps at the sight of his beloved, so your graces come to life when they behold the Christ who loved you and gave Himself for you. At the same time, when you see what your sins cost Christ, it should produce in you a godly sorrow and a hatred for sin.

Meditate. Meditation is to grace as bellows are to a fire. It revives the languishing soul with fresh thoughts of God. As you ponder over them, a holy fire will burn and your heart will grow warm within you. Resolve to spend time every day thinking about what has passed between God and you.

Think, first of all, about the mercies you have received from the Lord. Do not be like Pilate, who asked a question but did not wait for a John 18:38. Stay until you have received a full report of God's gracious dealings with you, and you will find memories of mercies, both new and old, flooding your soul. Meditating often on the magnitude of God's goodness teaches us to rejoice even in times of trouble, for the little evil that is our portion is drowned in the sea of His abundant mercies on our behalf.

Second, reflect upon yourself and your own behavior. What has it been toward God and toward man during the day? Ask yourself, "Soul, where have you been? What have you done for God, and how?" In this reflection, do not make excuses for yourself nor pamper yourself, for ultimately, God will judge you with full justice.

Pray. A soul in meditation is on its way to prayer. The two duties join hands to bring the soul into close communion with God. Meditation lays the wood in order, but the spark to kindle it comes from above and must be fetched by prayer. How can your soul flame with love for God if you never get close enough to Him to catch that heavenly spark.

Prayer: Father make us willing to be willing to meditate, study and in that process begin as Moses and be so saturated with your glorious presence that it transforms who we are and how we think, act and live.

Quoted material from, ”The Christian in Complete Armour Daily Readings in Spiritual Warfare” by Gurnall and James S Bell. http://www.moodypublishers.com/pub_productDetail.aspx?id=41823&pid=53617