healthy spiritual habits...

Read your Bible daily. God wants us to grow closer to Himself—and one of the ways we do this is through His Word, the Bible. As its truth takes root in our lives, it begins to change us from within. God gave us His Word to guide us and show us how He wants us to live. King David rightly says, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path" (Psalm 119:105).

Do not feel that you must read the whole Bible immediately. Start with what is manageable for you. You might begin with one of the Gospels -- Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John -- or with the Psalms. Use a modern translation that you can understand.

If you do not have a Bible you can find them at any bookstore or order them online. Three excellent translations are:

The New International Version (Click here for Amazon.com link)
The New Living Translation (Click here for Amazon.com link)
The English Standard Version (Click here for Amazon.com link)

You may also choose to read the Bible on-line. There are a variety of excellent on-line resources and one that we recommend provides you with a portion from the Old Testament and a portion from the New Testament. If you are just starting out begin with the New Testament portion only. Every time you click on this link it will open up the section of scripture for the day.

Journal what you are learning from the Bible. God desires for you to grow in your faith, so expect to discover truths about God and yourself as you read each day. The next step is to write down what you are discovering in a journal as a means of helping you remember what you have learned. This can also be an avenue for you to record prayers, words of thanksgiving, and questions to ask of other Christians.

Pray daily. Prayer is spiritual communication between us and God, a two-way relationship in which we should not only talk to God but also listen to Him. Prayer to God is like a child's conversation with his father. It is natural for a child to ask his father for the things he needs.

When you receive Christ into your heart, you become a child of God and have the privilege of talking to Him in prayer at any time about anything. The Christian life is a personal relationship to God through Jesus Christ. And best of all, it is a relationship that will last for all eternity.

You may start simply by praying a prayer found in scripture like the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) and then add some of your own words. Good things to include in your prayer are worship (Tell God how much you love him), confession (Tell God where you think you failed today and thank him for his forgiveness), requests (Be honest with God about your needs and hopes), listening (Be quiet before God and let him speak to your heart), and close with worship again (Thank him for all he has done for you).

Find a partner to help you grow. Your new life in Christ will bring many exciting changes and challenges for you. You are not alone on your journey. The pastors of Shelter Rock Church would be happy to answer any questions you may have and can also connect you with someone to provide continued help for your spiritual growth – this is called discipleship. The steps you are taking now will help bring about the promises of Psalm 1:3 in your life: “He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.”

TOGETHER WITH THE CHURCH COMMUNITY:

CELEBRATE with other Christians weekly

CONNECT with other Christians regularly

CONTRIBUTE your time, talent and treasure consistently