“Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.”
(II Timothy 1:13-14 )
I pray before I start my day and I read my Bible before I go run well before the sun rises. I am really good at these spiritual disciplines until about 8 a.m. Then it all kinda goes down hill. I would really like to pray more throughout the day and I really should be in the Word in the afternoon or evening (as I have duties to perform: husband, father, teacher, friend). I am telling on myself because I want to share three practices which I am personally attempting to cultivate with limited success. These might be practical and helpful.
1. Intentionally making a thankfulness prayer anytime something good happens. Anything we want to do or become we need to be constantly practicing for it. We are expected by our Creator to demonstrate His grace, we need to remember His graciousness as often as possible.
2. Memorizing larger sections of Scripture. I have read that Tony Dungy, former coach of the Colts, memorizes entire books of the Bible. This is amazing. Intelligence is essentially the ability to memorize things and recall them with some speed. Our ease of access to the Bible certainly allows us to forgo memorization, we can look it up. I’m thinking that memorization provides an ability to consider the Word in a unique way and consider it deeply at any moment.
3. Encourage someone in Christ daily. I have a profound ability to not discuss Christ’s redemptive love outside of teaching or writing. Perhaps making it a check list item will help. I also thing discussing the Word bring it to our minds more fully.
St. Paul tells Timothy to hold fast to the good thing committed to him. Fortunately the Spirit guards these things, yet any study of the Bible suggests the necessity that the believer be actively seeking Him persistently and constantly, this is the only way to grow.
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