Are you reading your Bible...

Today's 90 day NT challenge is Matthew 16 - 18.

Joshua 1: 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; 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.

Have you started this challenge yet? Have you shared the challenge with anyone? The 90 day challenge is spending the next 90 days reading three chapters a day, beginning with Matthew, and we will finish the entire New Testament! Go for it!

Let's talk about why this 90 day challenge is important. We can start with a question: Are you reading your Bible everyday, once a week, once a month, once a year or never? You may ask yourself, why should I read my Bible everyday? I don't have time, I don't feel like it, I do not feel like I am getting anything out of it... there are many excuses. But the simple truth is that for the Christian reading our Bible just makes us feel good and healthy and spiritually stronger.  Reading the Word also enables us to hear God's voice more clearly through His Word. The reason many of us just feel lousy every day is because we are not spending time with Jesus in the Word.

So are you reading your Bible? Reading the Bible is on my *short list* of things we must do for the rest of our life to make sure we make it to heaven. Now I realize this statement could spark a theological debate as to whether we would or would not make it to heaven if we never ready our Bible again. But that is not the point of the statement. The point is why would we try or take that chance or even want to not ready our Bible. I am so happy God has given us this life guidebook. It is not that we are attempting to earn our way to heaven but rather by continually putting the Word of God into our heart our spirits are receiving the nourishment required to keep us loving and serving God. "Then you will be prosperous and successful." we all want to be successful at whatever we are called to accomplish.

So just pick up your Bible and read it. Take your time, pay attention, and ask Jesus to speak to you. You will be surprised the difference it will make in your life.  Implement a strategy to be held accountable for accomplishing your daily devotion. Ask a friend to join the challenge with you. Ask your connect group to join the challenge. Now read it!

You may be wondering what are some of the other items on my *short list*... well stay tuned to The Short List post.