1. Regular Bible reading.
2. Regular personal prayer.
3. Regular church attendance and
worship.
How to read the
Bible
Get a Bible with clear print. You
can use the New International
Version, known also as the NIV. Many
people are familiar with this
version. If you find the language
difficult to understand,
there are
other good translations. The New
Living Translation (NLT) is also a
good translation. Try to read a
chapter every
day. Don't start at
Genesis and read from cover to
cover. The Bible consists of 66
books and is divided into the Old
Testament and the New Testament. To
start with, read one of the four
Gospels found at the beginning of
the New Testament (the Gospel of
Mark might be a good choice). Read
this in the morning. In the evening
you can read a Psalm from the Old
Testament. Later on in your
experience you can tackle the whole
Bible more systematically.
A simple method
of Bible study
Whenever you read a chapter of the
Bible look for the following:
1. Some promise that might be
written there.
2. Some warning.
3. Some beautiful verse that appeals
to you.
Underline the verse that appeals to
you and try to memorize the words
and the chapter and verse reference.
You can even write it down on a
small card to carry with you. In
spare moments during the day refresh
your memory by glancing at it. Take
a little time to think about its
meaning. Try to apply it to various
situations in your life. This is
called meditation. Meditate on the
scriptures. It is surprising how
soon you can build up a store of
biblical knowledge.
How to pray
Start your habit of prayer by taking
5 to 10 minutes at some suitable
time during the day. Try to make it
regularly at whatever time during
the day you have chosen.
King David prayed morning, midday
and evening. It certainly would be
beneficial to take a few minutes of
quietness at lunch time to tune into
the things of God, as well as
opening and closing the day with
prayer.
A pattern for
prayer
If you look at your hand you can
memorize a good plan to help you
pray meaningfully and
systematically.
The thumb
Point your thumb at your chest. That
reminds you to think of your
shortcomings and failures if you
have been guilty of any during the
day. Confess them to God,
remembering the promise of 1 John
1:9. (Read this verse for yourself
now.)
The index finger
With the first finger we point. Pray
for all whom in any sense point the
way: ministers, teachers,
journalists, and all opinion makers.
The second finger
This is your strongest finger. Pray
for those in authority and power:
rulers, magistrates, members of
parliament, police, etc.
The third finger
On this finger one wears a wedding
ring. Pray for everybody that you
love: family, friends, etc.
The little finger
This is the weakest finger on your
hand. Pray for the weak, the
oppressed, those in hospitals,
prisons or asylums; the aged and for
little children, etc.
The palm
Then stretch out your palm to
mention before God the things you
need, and ask for them in prayer.
They can be spiritual or material
needs - God cares for both.
It's a good idea to keep a notebook
and write your prayer requests with
the date on which you made them.
When the answer comes, write the
date the answer came next to the
original request. It will inspire
you to see how God answers your
prayers!
Church going
The Bible warns against neglecting
regular attendance at church.
(Hebrews 10:26)
The Bible describes a congregation
as a body and you as a member of
some body. (1 Corinthians 12:27) As
a member, you should find your place
in some congregation. A member
functions or plays a part, in the
body to which it belongs. Try to
find your ‘niche' in whichever
church you attend.
God has given people with gifted
ministries to the church. They are
called ‘shepherds.' Shepherds are
given for your benefit. If you don't
regularly attend church you lose the
benefits of these ministries.
Shepherds are given to care for your
soul. (Hebrews 13:17) They cannot do
so unless you submit to them by
linking up with the church where
they minister.
Find a good
church and join it
Don't drift around. Find a church
where the minister is born-again,
preaches from the Bible and gives
sound spiritual food. Go out of your
way to make friends in the church
you decide to join. Talk to people.
Invite them home for tea or take
them out for coffee and visit them
in their homes.
Every Christian should be committed
to some local congregation, and that
congregation should then assume
responsibility for the welfare of
that Christian.
God sets the
lonely in families. (Psalm 68:6)
Support the
church financially
The Bible teaches the principle of
financial giving. In 2 Corinthians,
chapters 8 and 9, the apostle Paul
gives the following principles for
giving:
1. Give generously, not grudgingly.
(2 Corinthians 9:5)
2. God loves a cheerful giver. (2
Corinthians 9:7)
3. Give sparingly and you will reap
sparingly: give generously and you
will reap generously. (2 Corinthians
9:6; Proverbs 11:24)
God can make sure you have enough in
spite of giving money away (2
Corinthians 9:8). In actual fact,
the Biblical pattern for giving is
the tithe or tenth of one's income.
Jesus gives this wonderful promise
concerning giving:
"Give, and you
will receive. Your gift will return
to you in full - pressed down,
shaken together to make room for
more, running over, and poured into
your lap. The amount you give will
determine the amount you get back."
(Luke 6:38)
