STOP!   LOOK!   LISTEN!

 

Living Bible

Proverbs 2:1-4,6-9:  Every young man who listens to me and obeys my instructions will be given wisdom and good sense.  tuning your ear to wisdom, tuning your heart to understanding, Yes, if you want better insight and discernment, and are searching for them as you would for lost money or hidden treasure, then wisdom will be given you, and knowledge of God himself; you will soon learn the importance of reverence for the Lord and of trusting him. For the Lord grants wisdom! His every word is a treasure of knowledge and understanding. He grants good sense to the godly--his saints. He is their shield, protecting them and guarding their pathway. He shows how to distinguish right from wrong, how to find the right decision every time.

 

 

In today’s busy life--- sometimes we have so much to do--we think we cannot get it all done!  We become so bogged down in our life, things we have to do, our problems and worries that we don’t know what to do!

Sometimes we call out to God.  The wonderful thing about God is - He will hear us and answer our call!  He will help us when we are desperate, if we believe in Jesus

as our Lord and depend on Him.  ( I am talking to believers, now, people who confess Jesus as their Savior.) But this is not enough! We cannot keep calling on God only when times are bad, or only when we have time and think about it.

 

We have to STOP in our busy lives and LOOK  for Jesus.  We have to take the time to STOP, LOOK AND LISTEN  to God’s  answer for us.

 

God is there for you!

He wants to grow close to you. However, just as a newborn baby has to grow, a Christian has to grow, too! Babies grow - from infancy to childhood to teenagers to adults.

Christians need to grow, too!  It is our responsibility to grow up spiritually!

We have to take the time in our lives to stop the merry-go-round of life, and look

for a closer walk with Jesus.  Only that way can we truly listen and learn,

 

-- Living Bible

Proverbs 2:6  For the Lord grants wisdom! His every word is a treasure of knowledge and understanding.

 

God gives wisdom and knowledge. He gives it to us through the Bible.  His word.

God gave the men who wrote the Bible the knowledge and understanding to write it

down for  us , so that we would have it forever, to study and learn.

 

-- Living Bible

2 Peter 1:19  So we have seen and proved that what the prophets said came true. You will do well to pay close attention to everything they have written, for, like lights shining into dark corners, their words help us to understand many things that otherwise would be dark and difficult. But when you consider the wonderful truth of the prophets' words, then the light will dawn in your souls and Christ the Morning Star will shine in your hearts.

 

Everything in the Bible was put there by men inspired of God to teach us, show us  how to live everyday and find the answers to our problems.

 

-- Living Bible

2 Timothy 3:16  The whole Bible was given to us by inspiration from God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives; it straightens us out and helps us do what is right.

 

We need to stop, take time each day to look for and find our Heavenly Father.

We need to look for him in prayer and reading the Bible.

 

SPEND TIME IN PRAYER:

When you pray:  Thank God for Jesus. Thank Him for your salvation. Thank Him for the answers to prayer He has given you. Thank Him for the things He has done for you, no matter how big or small. Ask Him for guidance - strength and help - to meet every day’s problems. Thank Him for hearing and answering your prayer.

Pray according to the Promises of God found in the Bible.

 

Always start and end your day with prayer!

 

-- Revised Standard

Luke 11:9  And I tell you, Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 

HOW DO YOU KNOW THE PROMISES OF GOD FOUND IN THE BIBLE?

 

You have to spend time studying the Bible, that’s how. Study the Bible for yourself. Read your Bible every day! Ask God to help you understand the Bible!

 

-- Living Bible

James 1:5  If you want to know what God wants you to do, ask him, and he will gladly tell you, for he is always ready to give a bountiful supply of wisdom to all who ask him; he will not resent it.

 

Don’t worry about how much of the Bible you read! Be organized. Pick a time that is good for you.  It can be in the morning, at lunch or at night. Ask God to show you what He means in the scriptures. Memorize Bible verses to say over and over. Write them down and tape them up in your house, so you can see them and read them over and over.

This is how you can grow up as a Christian.

 

-- Living Bible

2 Timothy 2:15  Work hard so God can say to you, ``Well done.'' Be a good workman, one who does not need to be ashamed when God examines your work. Know what his Word says and means.

 

TIPS FOR STUDYING THE BIBLE:

 

Start each Bible study with prayer.

Ask God to show you what He means in the Bible.

Don’t just open the Bible and start reading, study it in an organized way.

One way is:

Read the Gospel of John --   3 times.

Then read the Gospel of Luke  --  3 times

This will help you understand who Jesus is and what he did for you.

Next read Matthew, and Mark, Acts, 1  Thessalonians, 1 John, Romans, Ephesians.

Then read the rest of the New Testament, including the part you already read.

If you have trouble reading the King James Version of the Bible try to get another

translation.  You could try reading  the New International Version or the Living Bible.

 

It also helps to build you up -  to read Psalms and Proverbs in the Old Testament.

Mark the scriptures that mean a lot to you.

 

JOIN A CHURCH AND ATTEND REGULARLY!

 

Prayer for Christian Growth

 

Father God, I know that because I am your child - you care for me.

I know that when I call - you will answer me.

But I also know that I cannot live as a baby Christian forever.

I know that I need to grow in the grace and knowledge of Our Lord and Savior.

    Jesus Christ. Your word says in the Book of James, that I should ask for wisdom and understanding.   Now Lord, I ask you to help me understand the Bible.

Help me to understand it when I read it so that I will study it more and more.

Open the eyes of my understanding so that I can study to show myself approved, someone who does not need to be ashamed of my ignorance of things of God.

Help me to find your wisdom, Lord, so that I can understand righteousness and find the right path for me. 

Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer, Lord Jesus.

Ame