At the big service on Sunday (baptisms, first communions, lots of visiting families with younger children) we had a run-away plant that wanted to go and have lots of wonderful experiences, rather than be stuck in the same, boring ground. Of course the children could tell me that it wasn’t going to end well for that plant, with no soil to live in.
Christian freedom also includes the daily discipline of spending focussed time with God. It’s as simple as being with the one you love. Even a few minutes has a huge impact over a lifetime.
How to spend time with God’s Word
- Old school – use an actual printed Bible. Have it by your bedside, or next to your comfortable chair. You may follow a Bible reading plan. (Look down this page for a downloadable plan https://www.lca.org.au/devotions/) You may choose to read through a book of the Bible a chapter at a time. You might just sit with a few verses each day. Bible Gateway offers a number of plans https://www.biblegateway.com/reading-plans/
Do whatever works.
- Apps or daily emails. There are a bundle of apps or emails you can use. The LCA produces daily devotions. Look down this page to find where you can sign up https://www.lca.org.au/devotions/ .
Lectio 365 gives you a morning reading to linger over, a brief midday practice which includes praying the Lord’s Prayer, and then an evening Examen, a practice where you look back over the day prayerfully. https://www.24-7prayer.com/resource/lectio-365/ Check out the App store for this.
Our Daily Bread offers an app or can be read online. https://www.odb.org/
I appreciate the daily meditations from the Centre for Action and Contemplation. https://cac.org/daily-meditations/ Sometimes they don’t work for me, but mostly I find them very helpful.
Find a way that allows you to connect to God’s goodness and guidance each day, even if only for a few minutes. I find that it calms me, keeps me grounded in Christ, and keeps reminding me that I am a dearly loved child of God.
