Hearing God

It is not required that we do anything especially different on New Years Day that makes it any more effective or important than any other day. Mostly, because it’s the first day of the year it sort of becomes a time of “new beginnings.” Whether it's weight loss, working out or commitment to some other resolution, it has become a cultural “start over day.” That’s ok. Don’t hang your hat on any special strength on that day, though.  In actuality it can become an impediment in the sense that if we miss the first day, the chances for success diminish rapidly.

Having said this, let me encourage you today, as a brother in Christ, to start three habits (or continue them) this year. They will, in fact, change your life regardless of when you start, but today is a good day.

First, if you are not reading the Bible, pick it up! Just start today. Read it daily. There are many online Bible reading plans, usually free, to choose from. My personal favorite is Bible by Olive Tree. In recent years, I have read through the Bible using this app many times. I suggest reading the Bible at least once a year (remember, you don’t have to start on Jan.1!). It takes about fifteen to twenty minutes to do that. I prefer to read the Bible more often. Right now, I am reading it at a pace of three times a year. That takes me personally about thirty-five minutes daily. One of the main reasons I do that is because, for me, a year is discouraging in that it doesn’t stay with me as well (the content) and I also don’t want to read any particular segment only once a year. I want to read the beautiful words of the Psalms more often than annually. Each person has different reading and comprehension skills, but at least once a year is highly suggested.

As Paul is writing the letters to Timothy, two verses stand out—2 Timothy 2.15 and 3:16. I won’t take time to take a deep dive in those here, but I have another article on this subject in this blog site (“The Other 3:16”) you might peruse.

Second, memorize scripture. The Bible itself not only commands us to, but it also assumes we will. As a matter of fact, parts of the Bible are literally written to enhance our ability to memorize. I refer to the “acrostic poetry” of the Old Testament as well as “parallelism” within Hebrew poetry. (see my book The Divine Chase: Responding to a Pursuing God, pp. 74-75 where I look deeper into this aspect of scripture). A prime example of acrostic poetry is found in both Psalm 119 as well as the entire book of Lamentations (I plan on articles on both in the near future).

Third, develop a steady, firm prayer life. Prayer is essential to the believing life. It is not a back-up plan; it is the plan. It is not merely for emergencies, but it is certainly essential in those moments. Prayer is an ongoing walk with the Lord. Prayer is work. Prayer is a conversation with God, but it is a lifetime commitment to Him. Christ Himself teaches the disciples (and us) the basics when one of his disciples asked him to teach them to pray in Luke 11:1-13. The center point of the Lord’s prayer repeated in this verse is full of the Master’s teaching regarding his desire for his disciples (another opportunity for a deep dive in scripture!). One thing that shines in these verses is the “ask, seek, knock” language and their application to the Lord’s prayer, all prayer. They are participles in the original Greek and tells us of the necessary “constancy, boldness and importunity” of prayer. Prayer is to be a protracted time in talking with and hearing God especially from his Word when we have cordoned ourselves in a private alone time with God. We must also be in a constant mindset and action of prayer as we live our daily lives. It is possible.

It is my true desire not only to pour these things into my own heart in a fresh way this year, but I can confirm to you that if you apply these basic practices into your life, God will transform your walk with Him.

May the Lord bless you richly!

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We can come to know Christ through confession of our sins and repentance (turning away from sin). Let me encourage you to do this by talking to God through prayer. Here is an idea of how you might do that:

"Dear God, I believe your son Jesus Christ died in my place on the cross and rose from the dead on the third day following his death. I confess my sins, all of them, to you now with a humble heart. I repent of those sins and ask you to empower me with your Holy Spirit in overcoming further sin. Amen”

If you prayed this or a similar prayer committing your life to Christ and becoming one of his followers, let me encourage you to find a good, Bible-believing church. If you live in the Weslaco/Rio Grand Valley area of Texas, let me invite you to the church I attend, Mid-Valley Assembly (www.midvalleyassembly.com).

Begin talking to God in prayer and reading the Bible daily. A good way to begin to read the Bible is to start with the Book of John in the New Testament.

Feel very free in connecting with me if you need any further help in your walk with the Lord Jesus Christ. You can do this via the above email or facebook page or this web page.

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Mercy Road Ministries was founded and now led by Ben Bounds. Ben has pastored churches across Texas for over thirty years and is an ordained minister with the Christian and Missionary Alliance (C&MA). He holds a BA in Pastoral Ministry and Biblical Studies from Southwestern Assemblies of God College and did graduate theological studies at the BMA Theological Seminary.

Ben's first book, The Divine Chase: Responding to a Pursuing God, was released on 12.08.2017 through Westbow Press, a division of Thomas Nelson and Zondervan. It is available in paperback and hardback through your preferred bookseller (Mardels, Barnes and Noble, etc.) and paperback, hardback as well as ebook through online book retailers (www.christianbook.com, www.cokesbury.com, www.amazon.com, www.booksamillion.com, www.barnesandnoble.com, etc.).

Ben is the host of Staying in Bounds, an on-air Bible devotional broadcast multiple times daily on KWJV 103.7 FM Weslaco, TX which can also be heard worldwide online at www.kwjvthestar.com. Ben and his wife, Linda, together have four adult children and nine grandchildren. They live in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas.

Ben can be contacted for preaching engagements at benbounds695@gmail.com or 903.441.3279. Ben can also be contacted via his website @ www.benbounds.com, which is also his blog and contains more information about his ministry.

Follow Ben @ https://www.facebook.com/mercyroadministries/ and this website www.benbounds.com.

©2024 by Ben Bounds. All rights reserved.