Wednesday, January 20

Psalm 119:57-58
You are my portion, O Lord; I have promised to obey your words. I have sought your face with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise.

Re-read these verses from Psalm 119 several times over – slowly and prayerfully. Make the words of the ancient writer your words and your prayer as you meet with God.


2 Timothy 3:14-16
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Here Paul is assuming there are three “stages” of growth when it comes to God’s word:
1. Continue learning – which refers to learning the content of the Bible;
2. Become convinced – which means trusting the truth of God’s word;
3. Be equipped – which means putting truth into practice in our lives.

How would you evaluate your own growth in all three areas? Do you feel like you have a firm grasp of the content of scripture? If not, consider making a personal commitment to simply read through the Bible over the course of time. You can find plenty of tools on-line or in Christian book stores that will help you in this journey.

Are you convinced of the truth of God’s word? Do you have questions about the Bible and its authority? There are many books you might want to read – here are a few:

“God Wrote a Book” by James McDonald
“Is the Bible True?” – by Jeffrey Sheler
“How Reliable is the Bible” – by Judson Poling
“The Stones Cry Out” – by Randall Price

Do you feel equipped to put your faith into practice in your daily life? One of the best ways to grow in this way is to get involved in service or become part of a group where you can share your life and questions with others who may be able to both encourage you and hold you accountable. Ask God to lead you into the opportunities that will help you grow in applying his word to your daily life.