“… we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.” Ephesians 4:15
Spiritual maturity is the result of intentional, Spirit-empowered engagement in a variety of life-changing devotional habits. Two of those “spiritual disciples” (as they are called) are Bible reading and prayer. Our 12-week growth plan provides several different templates for Bible reading and prayer which you can use as is, or refer to as an example while you choose/create a plan of your own. Please be sure to share your plan with your Traveling Companion so that he/she can encourage you along the way. We can’t wait to see how God will use this devotional season to help all of us mature in our faith!
Bible Reading Plans
“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12
Our goal here is daily time in God’s word. We’ve provided six plans that are varied, hopefully offering a desirable option for everyone. Click on each reading plan to see the daily schedule and pick the one you’re most interested in. Print out your selected plan and place it in your Bible so that you can check off the passages as you read them.
Click to view reading plans:
Prayer Guides
“Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.” Colossians 4:2
Again, our goal here is to spend some time in prayer each day for twelve weeks. We’ve provided seven prayer templates which will guide you through a variety of approaches to prayer. You may want to try one approach per week and then pick your favorites in the last five weeks. You may also want to utilize one template per day and work through all seven each week. Mostly, we hope you will be encouraged as you devote time daily to conversation with your heavenly Father.
Pray the attributes of God in alphabetical order. For example, “You are Almighty, you are Beloved, you are the Creator,” and so on until you reach the end of the alphabet. “Lord, you are Zealous for me!”
Using a passage of Scripture, pray those same words to God. For example, based on Ephesians 1:7 you might pray “Lord, thank you that I have been redeemed through your blood. Thank you for forgiving my trespasses. Your grace is without limit!”
Distill a verse down to its core truth, a simple phrase. Using Eph 1:7 as an example, the phrase could be “Jesus redeems.” Breathe in and out slowly, whispering this truth with each breath.
Place your palms facing down in front of you. Begin to talk to the Lord about all you are having difficulty letting go of in your life. Release your control of them. After you have placed it all at Jesus’ feet, turn your hands so that your palms are facing up. Begin rehearsing the promises that are yours in Christ Jesus. For example, if you are having a difficult time recovering from a hurt relationship, you might say “Lord, your Spirit enables me to forgive my friend. Help me to love her with your love and to see her the way you do.”
After reading your Bible passage for the day, write down in your journal all the things you learned about God. Spend some time in praise for who He is.
Trace your hand in your journal. In each of your fingers and in your thumb, write down a specific way God has blessed you. Spend some time thanking Him. In the palm of your hand write the attribute of God that is most meaningful to you right now.
Spend some time talking to God in four different ways. Adoration. Confession. Thanksgiving. Supplication.