Welcome to Read. Pray. Love. Daily.! Below you are encouraged in a simple, overarching pattern of daily prayer, Scripture reading, and response. There are several Bible reading “tracks” to guide you into God’s Word below. May the Holy Spirit so work in this daily pattern that we may receive His grace and love in our hearts (Galatians 1:3-6; 2:15-3:5), “delight” in the Word of God and bear much good fruit (Psalm 1:2-3), and be found being “doers of the Word and not hearers only” (see James 1:22-25; Matthew 7:21-27; 28:20)!
Begin by REACHING UP IN PRAYER:
Before you read God’s Word today, ask for His help by praying these 5 prayers:
- God, give me wisdom, knowledge, and understanding.
- Let any knowledge I gain help me love You and others more, and not puff me up.
- Help me see something new about You that I’ve never seen before.
- Correct any lies I believe about You or anything I misunderstand.
- Direct my steps according to Your Word. Amen.
Now, RECEIVE GOD’S WORD:
**Below, you will find 3 reading “tracks”: Track 1 (Beginning) will take you through the 4 Gospels and the Book of Acts over the course of a year in short readings (either 1 or 2 every day); Track 2 (Growing) will trace the storyline of the Bible by having you read selected chapters/passages from Genesis to Revelation over the 1st approximately 9 months of the year provided by the CASKET EMPTY Bible curriculum with the last 3 months converging with track 3 to cover the New Testament part of the chronological BIBLE RECAP plan; and, Track 3 (Maturing) will guide readers through the entire Bible using the full 365 day BIBLE RECAP chronological plan. We invite you to CHOOSE a track and begin a new adventure with God!
**Track 1 (Beginning)
Week 37, Day 1:
Jesus Story 379- “Jesus Is Arrested” (Luke 22:47-53)
Jesus Story 380- “Peter Says He Doesn’t Know Jesus” (Luke 22:54-62)
Supplemental Video(s) – Bible Project:
**Track 2 (Growing)
Week 37 (September 3-9) – A 32-Day Recap of OT/NT Plan (Day 29):
**“CASKET EMPTY (Teaching) – NT Day 11: New Communities Are Faithful to Christ to Christ in Suffering”
–1 Peter 1:3-9; 2:21-25; Hebrews 11:1-12:3; 13:20-22; Jude 1:24-25; 1 John 4:1-6
Accompanying Video:
**Track 3 (Maturing)
Day 252: EZEKIEL 40-42 (READ HERE – LISTEN HERE)
The Bible Recap Video:
Then, RESPOND in PRAYER & LOVE TODAY:
Consider responding to God and His Word and to Love God & People in one or more of the following ways as the Holy Spirit leads you:
- Today’s Prayer Focus:
- Prayer Verse – So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13 (ESV)
- Special Prayer Focus – For my family, St. John’s family, and myself to be people marked above all by a living faith in Christ, hope in Christ, and most especially love like Christ
- Praying for Our Church Family: Church Directory (Gn, W.-Gr)
- Will You and I Be a “B.L.E.S.S.ing” to Our Neighbors?: Let’s continue to grow in a life of love for people and practical witness as we BEGIN with prayer, LISTEN, EAT together, SERVE, and share our STORY…
- Pray for Laborers & Be Willing to Be the Answer to Your Prayer – Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” Matthew 9:37-38 (ESV)
- Pray for Your Neighbors to Come to Know Christ through Your Witness – Remember Matthew 6:10 and how Matt Friedeman and Ray Easley said to pray “Thy kingdom come” means “God is our King. We want everyone in the whole world to know Him as King” (The New Discipleship in the Home, p. 151). Make a private list of persons in your life who need to know Christ and pray for them by name.
- Accountability – How are you “setting” and “seizing” opportunities to “B.L.E.S.S.” others in your life in a holistic way…not only Beginning with prayer, but also Listening, Eating together, Serving, and sharing your Story in Christ? What could that look like in your life and outreach? Who did I B.L.E.S.S. this week and in which specific ways? Share with a trusted accountability partner.
- Prayer of the Week (of Francis Chan, CRAZY LOVE, p. 110):
- Jesus, I need to give myself up. I am not strong enough to love You and walk with You on my own. I can’t do it, and I need You. I need You deeply and desparately. I believe You are worth it, that You are better than anything else I could have in this life or the next. I want You. And when I don’t, I want to want You. Be all in me. Take all of me. Have Your way with me. Amen.
- H.E.A.R. from God: As I prayerfully read this passage, Holy Spirit, what verse(s) are You Highlighting for me to write down and/or reflect on? How are You guiding me to Explain in my own words what this passage/highlight means? How are You leading me to faithfully and specifically Apply what I hear (in Adoration, Confession and Change, Thanksgiving and Testimony)? How are You guiding me to specifically Respond to the Father through Jesus in prayer, repentance, faith, love, worship, and obedience to what has been heard? To others in love?
