God’s word is a gift and daily reading is a blessing – although we often struggle with it as a chore. Below are four steps to help you get the most out of devotional time. I suggest setting apart 15 minutes a day to read and starting with one chapter daily. The goal is not information but transformation – don’t read for quantity but quality of understanding. In order to do this…
- Pray
- Clear yourself of sin and any agenda you might have. Don’t read to prove yourself right, read to right yourself before God.
- Fill yourself with the Spirit. Redirect your thoughts towards Christ, invite the Spirit’s presence and guidance as you read scripture.
- Read
- Be intentional, read slowly (maybe out loud). As you read expect God to reveal something to you.
- Read minimally – mass consumption forces us to skip. Don’t read 10 chapters in one day and miss the point of all ten, rather read 1-2 chapters and truly digest them.
- Meditate/Memorize
- Meditate on the principle of what the text has taught you. Ask God to show you how to live this out today.
- Memorize the scripture that encapsulates the principle.
- Live it out
- Ask God to help you apply the truth of scripture to your life.
- Live with pause in your life to examine your actions in light of that passage.
Here’s a primer to start with daily Bible reading, I suggest the following schedule…
- Sunday – Haggai 1
- Monday – Haggai 2
- Tuesday – 1 Thessalonians 1
- Wednesday – 1 Thessalonians 2
- Thursday – 1 Thessalonians 3
- Friday – 1 Thessalonians 4
- Saturday – 1 Thessalonians 5
When it comes to prayer touch is commonly referred to as the laying on of hands. But, it’s not always that, Sunday we saw how there’s spiritual significance in many things including a hug – Paul even admonishes his churches to greet each other with a “holy kiss” (Romans 16:16 and others)! The laying on of hands is the most common form of touch in prayer and dates back through the Original Testament.
It was used to give blessing, Jacob laid his hands on Joseph’s boys to bless them (Genesis 48:14-17). It was also used for ordaining the Aaronic priesthood (Lev 8:14) to designate them as holy. Here touch is used for conferring God’s choice to an individual. Healing also is another reason why someone would lay hands on another person (2 Kings 4:34).
These are the main themes (although there are others) that warrant laying on of hands. Jesus continues these themes in the New Testament touching people as he heals (Mark 6:2), blessing the children by the laying on of hands (Mark 10:13-16) and send out his disciples with “raised hands” (Luke 24:50).
The New Testament church continues to bear witness to this particularly by laying on of hands for healing and sending. This is a practice which has become out of practice for our church, is still quite common throughout many faith traditions in the world. We would do well to reclaim this act for what it was intended and that is blessing God’s people either through healing or sending!
This Sunday our service was less sermon and more experience. We talk a lot about prayer, I’m glad we took the time today to pray. There are many needs in our church and throughout the world, we should pause to pray more often. Part of my hope in today’s service is that it inspires us to dedicate more of our personal life to prayer. I’ll be posting different prayer options and aids throughout this week so come back for some help if you struggle with praying. Below are some notes from today’s service, I’ll be posting a few more references about the use of touch or laying on of hands in prayer tomorrow. If you would like a copy of the slideshow you can download it by clicking here (you’ll need PowerPoint or it’s viewer to watch it).
1. Guidance - Through prayer Paul and Barnabas’ (Acts 13:2-3) path became clear. Seek God through payers of guidance in regard to difficult choices, career or confusion.
- Touch here symbolized the authority of the church, they were being sent out with the authority of the church, under the authority of the Spirit.
- Close in prayer from Psalm 143
2. Health and Safety - Through prayer the Shunahmite woman’s son was healed (2 Kings 2:33-34) and Peter set free (Acts 12:12-14). Seek God through prayers for healing and safety.
- Jesus touched many of the people he healed, he didn’t have to – he chose to!
- The human touch during prayer symbolizes the divine touch that we pray for! Your hand represents the hand of God.
- Close in prayer from Psalm 41:1-4
3. Restoration and Relationships - Prayer and contemplation remind us of our offenses (Matthew 5:23, 24). Prayer also gives us strength to forgive and restore (1 Corinthians 1:8-10). Ask God for healing in relationships and to seek forgiveness in your relationships.
- Touch is so important in relationships, a hug, a touch from a hand, a kiss, a pat on the shoulder. Luke 15 records the story of the prodigal son who when he returns home his father hugs him and kisses him.
- The story of Caleb and Will Chapman can be found online here.
- Close in prayer from Luke 15:20-24.
4. Purification and Salvation - Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed (James 5:16). Pray for purification and salvation and forgiveness.
- Touch makes us realize that we’re touchable, lovable, and forgivable.
- Closing prayer from Psalm 51.
Where do you go from here? Tonight try reading and praying through Psalm 4 – it’s my favorite prayer before bed.
