The Godly Gazette (Read, Study, Meditate)

Read, Study, Meditate

Salvation is the beginning of a journey. It is the start of a new life. As you start to practice spiritual disciplines in your daily life, you will begin to separate yourself from worldly behaviors that are unpleasing to God.

As you grow in your relationship with the Lord, you will want to learn more about each discipline, and how it affects your daily life and spiritual growth. This issue will list some of the spiritual disciplines to help you get started on the right path.

As you work to add these disciplines to your life, remember the following issues…

1. Constantly remember the purpose of the disciplines. Keep in mind that being on the right path
....does not produce change, but puts you in a place where change can occur.

2. Be sure that you don’t start pursuing spiritual disciplines more than God. Continue to pray and
....ask Jesus to guide you where needed, and remember that the Holy Spirit teaches us all truth.

3. Keep in mind that change is God’s work, not ours. The spiritual disciplines are a means to
....receive God’s grace, allowing us to place ourselves on the path where God can transform us.

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The Word of God

2 Peter 1:20/21 - …no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. NIV

Gods Word is the standard by which you need to judge all things. Every way or thought that disagrees with God will eventually bring harm into your life. God did not give us His commandments and laws to keep us from enjoying life, but to keep us from the harm that comes from committing those sins.

The Bible is Gods Word, and His Word is always true. John 17:17 says, (Your Word is truth. NIV)

As an example, you may find something in Gods Word that is different than your opinion about marriage, money, discipline, or even premarital sex. Whose thinking needs to change? Gods or yours? You must change your thinking to align with Gods.

Joshua 1:8 - Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. NIV

God says to meditate on His Word, “day and night”. Just reading or hearing the Word once is not enough. As you continue to think about, talk about, read, re-read, and pray about it, revelation of what God is personally speaking to you will come, and it is revelation from God that you need to be seeking.

As you read your Bible, it’s a good idea to first ask God to open your spiritual eyes. Psalm 119:18 says, (Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from your law. NIV) You will get far more out of His Word with His help.

An added bonus is to read aloud. There is great power in God’s Word and much power in the spoken word. Life and death are in the power of your tongue (Proverbs 18:21), and faith comes from hearing the message (Romans 10:17). The power of the tongue mixed with the power of Gods Word, (speaking and hearing Gods Word), is a combination that will spawn considerable growth to your faith and spirit.

Prayer and Worship

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