Resources
As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord's word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him. Psalm 18:30
The Bible is God's living word to us; it's more than just a manual for living, or a map for life, or a guidebook for eternity, or a set of excellent moral guidelines. It is, in fact, the very breathed word of The Word - Jesus. Here's some helpful resources to help you understand and be nourished by the Scriptures.
Bible Reading
Bible Reading Plans
A great resource for daily Bible Reading is the Read Scripture App (available for mobile devices). If you’re not sure where to start, why not try a month’s journey through Mark’s Gospel.
A Month in Mark’s Gospel
- Day 1: Mark 1:1-20
- Day 2: Mark 1:21-45
- Day 3: Mark 2:1-22
- Day 4: Mark 2:23-3:19
- Day 5: Mark 3:20-35
- Day 6: Mark 4:1-20
- Day 7: Mark 4:21-41
- Day 8: Mark 5:1-20
- Day 9: Mark 5:21-43
- Day 10: Mark 6:1-29
- Day 11: Mark 6:30-56
- Day 12: Mark 7:1-23
- Day 13: Mark 7:24-37
- Day 14: Mark 8:1-21
- Day 15: Mark 8:22-9:1
- Day 16: Mark 9:2-29
- Day 17: Mark 9:30-50
- Day 18: Mark 10:1-31
- Day 19: Mark 10:32-52
- Day 20: Mark 11:1-19
- Day 21: Mark 11:20-33
- Day 22: Mark 12:1-17
- Day 23: Mark 12:18-44
- Day 24: Mark 13:1-23
- Day 25: Mark 13:24-37
- Day 26: Mark 14:1-21
- Day 27: Mark 14:22-42
- Day 28: Mark 14:43-72
- Day 29: Mark 15:1-20
- Day 30: Mark 15:21-47
- Day 31: Mark 16:1-20
Prayer & Praise Journal Resources
Journaling
Journaling is a fantastic way to cultivate a lifestyle of prayer and praise. The practice of journaling on a consistent basis helps to develop the spiritual discipline of prayer. Journaling also provides a record of answered prayers that give God glory and remind us of His goodness. When we take the time to write out our prayers, reflect on God’s character, and express our love for Him, our relationship will grow deeper. A prayer journal is a tool that can cultivate a deep, intimate relationship between us and God. It is a place to express our needs and see God faithfully respond to us in love. If we keep a prayer journal daily, it is a constant reminder that we need God and that He is with us.
Taking the time to write down what you’ve prayed about, either in a Riverlife Prayer & Praise Journal, or in your own manner, helps us both remember what God has done and is doing, but also helps us remain consistent and committed in our prayer and devotional lives. Give it a try!
Personal Devotions and Quiet Times
The SOAP Method of Reading God’s Word
If you are looking for some help reading the Bible – perhaps try the SOAP method. It can help you interact with God’s word so that you can discover truths for your daily walk with the Lord.
S – Scripture
The “S” stands for Scripture. It can be powerful to write out Scriptures in your journal. If you read a large passage of Scripture, just write out the verses that spoke to you.
O – Observation
The “O” stands for observation. This step encourages you to interact with the Scriptures that you have written out. What do you see? What stands out? What didn’t you notice before? Is there repetition, comparison, or contrast? During this step you basically ask yourself: what do I see and what does it mean?
A – Application
The “A” stands for application. This step encourages you to make God’s word personal in your life. What is God saying to me today? How can I apply what I have just read to my walk with the Lord? Do I need to make changes? Do I need to take action?
P – Prayer
The “P” stands for prayer. This step involves asking God to work in your life concerning the truths you’ve just discovered in your Bible reading. Prayer is the seed (the Scripture you just studied) that falls on the good soil in your heart so that it will take root and produce fruit in your life.
