A Chapter A Day Keeps the Devil Away

The greatest weapon and defense against Satan’s attacks is the Word of God. It takes the average reader from 3 to 5 minutes to read a chapter in the Bible. Only one chapter a day will make a difference in anyone’s life. Try it for just a month and prove it for yourself!

Ephes. 6:11, 17, "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil… And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:"

Your Priority

Spend as much time as you can with the Lord -- first thing in the morning, if at all possible. But if your plan calls for a minimum of an hour of quiet time, and your baby is fretful and running a fever, your priority is already settled. After your child is comfortable and is resting quietly in your arms, use the time you do have to pray and go over memorized scripture in your mind. Find moments of time and ways to let God comfort YOU during those times of frustration. You need that spiritually as much as your child needs comfort from you.

Isaiah 65:24,"And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. "

One-Year Bible

A one-year Bible is a good choice for people who want to read the Bible through in a year and enjoy a daily variety of scriptures from the Old and New Testaments. Large print one-year Bibles are also available.

Psalm 119:103, "How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!"

Daily Quiet Time

Whatever you call it -- Quiet Time, Devotions, Alone-with-God-Time -- it is as necessary spiritually for Christian living as food is for physical life. You will face frustrations today that will overwhelm you without the sense of companionship with God in your heart. Make time spent with God the first priority of the day, every day. Don´t start the day without Him! Job 23:12, "I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food. "

Two Main Elements

The two main elements of personal devotions are prayer and God’s Word. Other readings and activities, such as devotionals, journaling, and music, can enhance one’s quiet time with God, but the first two are absolute essentials. If you don’t have time for everything you would like to do, make sure these are kept in first place.

Divide the Pages

Some chapters in the Bible are long, while others are very short. A good way to balance this out so you can read the whole Bible in a year is to
divide the number of pages by 365 (or 312 if you read Monday through Saturday only). Most Bibles I’ve checked can be read in a year by
reading about 3 pages a day. I have found that to be easier for me than trying to read "X" number of chapters a day.

Psalm 119:148, "Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word."

Be Yourself

Always be yourself when you write in your journal. It doesn’t matter if your writing style is elaborate or casual. A "list" is okay, too: Three Things I am Thankful for Today, Three Things that Bother Me, My Goals for this Week, etc. You can even write your entries in prayer form if you like. I often do this when I have a special need. Write with a free heart! Lay it out before God and ask Him to take care of anything that troubles you.

1 Peter 5:7, "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you."

Mark and Highlight Your Bible

In my childhood era, most parents taught their children not to mark in the Bible. Family Bibles were common, but not every child had one of his own. Some grownups mistakenly thought of the book as being holy as well as what it represented. While the physical Bible, like the American flag, should be respected, it is God’s Word itself that is holy, not the paper it is written on. It’s okay to make notes and highlight your Bible. If fact, that is one of the best ways to remember the things you learn as you read through it. The lessons the Holy Spirit showed you will become a second treasure the next time through, and perhaps even more insight will be given you.

Psalm 119:130, "The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple."

Practical Guidace

The Bible can give you practical, daily guidance for your life. As a teen, I read only one chapter each night before I went to sleep. Although it took me at least five years to read the Bible through, there was always help for those turbulent years in my life.

For example, I was already dating my husband when I came to the verse, "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers." On our next date, I asked if he were a Christian and, thankfully, he said yes! If I had read the verse before I started dating anyone, I could have asked ahead, before taking the chance of falling in love with someone whose core beliefs differed from my own.

Psalm 119:105, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."

*Reading Through the Bible In a Year*

Reading the Bible through in a year gives the greatest sense of accomplishment, not to mention the wisdom gained -- and it only takes a few minutes a day! The average reader can read the Bible through in 15 to 20 minutes a day.

Psalm 119:162, "I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil."

Listen Via Radio or Internet

You can listen to the whole Bible in a year on radio through a Bible Broadcasting Network station or via internet. Well-known Bible reader Alexander Scourby reads for about 15 minutes daily at 3 p.m. and 3 a.m. (Eastern Standard Time.) To find out if there is a BBN station near you, or to listen via the internet, go to http://www.bbnradio.org. Radio broadcasts are translated in English, Spanish, Portugues, Chinese, Japanese, Russian/Romanian, and Korean.

Ezekiel 37:9, "Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live." (Spoken to Ezekiel in the vision of the valley of dry bones.)

Listen Just Minutes a Day

Several audio selections of the Bible on tape are available for those who prefer listening to reading. This would also be a good choice for people who commute to their job or do a lot of traveling. You can choose to buy the whole Bible on tape, just the Old or New Testament, the Psalms, Proverbs, or the Psalms and Proverbs. There are also dramatized versions available.

Luke 8:21, "And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it."

Free Devotional Magazine

One way you can live in the strength and power of Jesus Christ is to spend time daily in God’s Word. A free Turning Points devotional magazine can help keep you on track. It has timely articles, daily devotionals, and recommended scripture readings to take you through the Bible in a year. To start your free subscription, write Turning Point, Box 3838, San Diego, CA 92163, Attn: Kristie Cigainero. You can also email info@turningpointroaio.org. or phone this toll-free number: (800) 580-0863. To learn more about Turning Point ministries, go to this web address: http://www.turningpointonline.org.

The Easy Yoke

When we try to carry the burdens of the day on our own, they become mighty heavy! When we start off our day gung-ho without taking time to ask God’s help and guidance, we are soon weighed down with cares and frustrations. It is foolish to carry burdens alone when God wants to be your burden bearer.

Matthew 11:29-30, "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

Spiritual Therapy

You can write thoughts, prayer requests -- whatever you want, kind of like a diary that you can read later and remember how God met your needs. Besides venting our feelings, writing lets us organize our thoughts and view a problem more objectively. Don’t worry if the words aren’t spelled exactly right nor grammatically perfect. Expressing your emotional feelings before God is what’s important here.

"I have a spelling checker, It came with my PC; It plainly marks four my revue, mistakes I cannot sea. I’ve run this poem threw it, I’m sure your please to no, It’s letter perfect in its weigh, My checker tolled me sew." -- Unknown

Protect the Guilty?

Some people are afraid others will someday read what they’ve written in their journal. Me, I’m hoping they will! Some things that have helped me may help my child or grandchild. It’s doubtful if anyone would read it until after I die anyway. It wouldn’t matter then unless it’s a "closet-skeleton" entry. If it’s something where I wouldn’t want the actual person involved to be identified, yet I need to write it down for emotional health reasons, I might "protect the guilty" by writing it in disguised form. Your journal entry today could someday help another during a time of deep despair.

Ephesians 4:15, "Speaking the truth in love...."

Make Your Own Plan

If you want to vary your daily Bible reading and can’t find a ready-made plan that meets your needs, you can make up your own. For example, some people choose to read two chapters from the Old Testament, one from the New, a Psalm and a Proverb. With this plan, you would be reading the New Testament through about twice in a year, and Proverbs through several times. If you only want to go through the Bible once, do the math and you’re all set. Divide the Old Testament chapters or pages by 365 and the New Testament accordingly.

2 Tim. 2:15, Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

Getting to Give

In a recent radio broadcast of "Turning Point," Dr. David Jeremiah said, "Anyone who thinks his time is so valuable that he cannot find time to be quiet and be alone with God eventually will not be valuable to anyone but himself. In order to have anything to give to others, we must first receive something from God." Make sure you have received your "daily bread" before you leave God’s table today.

Psalm 119:99, "I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation."

A Devotional Supplement

Journaling is an excellent way to supplement your personal devotions. You can use a plain notebook or be more elaborate with a personalized journal. I like the combination devotional-journal "My Utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers. If you are not already writing down you thoughts, especially those that trouble you, today would be a good time to start!

Psalm 45:1c, "My tongue is the pen of a ready writer."

Write Feelings; Express Yourself!

"A personal journal is a wonderful experience. If you aren’t journaling, you’re missing out! If you want to start, write down your thoughts, feelings, blessings, answered prayers and what you’ve learned from the Scriptures. Don’t worry about being profound, just be honest, open and express yourself! If you keep a daily record of your progress, you’ll be amazed to see how the hand of God has moved in your life!" -- Circle of Friends

Online Bilingual Bible Reading and Devotionals

Could you use some help in planning your daily personal devotions? Back to the Bible, a Christian ministry, offers free Bible reading plans -- with scriptures online -- in several languages. Plans include Historical, Beginning to End, Old and New Together, and Blended. These are translated in English, Spanish, Dutch, French, Italian, Portuguese, German, and seven other languages, including Arabic and Latin!

BBTB also has several devotional books you can read free online and/or subscribe to via email. The web address is www.backtothebible.org.

Poem: I Couldn´t Find the Time

"I Couldn’t Find the Time"

I knelt to pray but not for long,
I had too much to do.
I had to hurry and get to work
For bills would soon be due.
So I knelt and said a hurried prayer,
And jumped up off my knees.
My Christian duty was now done
My soul could rest at ease.
All day long I had no time
To spread a word of cheer.
No time to speak of Christ to friends,
They’d laugh at me I’d fear.
No time, no time, too much to do,
That was my constant cry,
No time to give to souls in need
But at last the time, the time to die.
I went before the Lord,
I came, I stood with downcast eyes.
For in his hands God held a book;
It was the book of life.
God looked into his book and said
"Your name I cannot find.
I once was going to write it down...
But never found the time"

--Unknown

Be Not afraid

Be not afraid to tell Jesus that you love Him; even though it be without feeling, this is the way to oblige Him to help you, and carry you like a little child too feeble to walk.

- St. Therese of Lisieux