dual personalities

As you know my Bible reading plan this year was the Navigators 5x5x5 New Testament reading plan. It has been an easier plan than reading the entire Bible and I have enjoyed concentrating on the NT.

Right now I am reading Revelation, which is looking awfully relevant these days.

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. (Rev. 3:20)

For next year, I have a new plan and a new Bible–the ESV Chronological Bible.

I will read through scripture in historical order–from Genesis to Revelation–through the eight eras of the Bible in the order the events occurred.

Do you have a reading plan for 2024? Here’s a list of ones you can download. Times a-wastin’! January will be here before you know it.

After my morning scripture reading, I read a prayer from The Valley of Vision, a collection of Puritan prayers and devotions, edited by Arthur Bennett. I really love these prayers and I highly recommend the book. You might want to ask Santa to bring you a copy for Christmas. (POV: Don’t buy anything for yourself now–someone may already be planning to give it to you for Christmas!)

O Lord, in prayer I launch far out into the eternal world, and on that broad ocean my soul triumphs over all evils on the shores of mortality. Time, with its gay amusements and cruel disappointments never appears so inconsiderate as then.

In prayer I see myself as nothing; I find my heart going after Thee with intensity, and long with vehement thirst to live to Thee. Blessed be the strong gales of the Spirit that speed me on my way to the New Jerusalem.

In prayer all things here below vanish, and nothing seems important but holiness of heart and the salvation of others.

In prayer all my worldly cares, fears, anxieties disappear, and are of as little significance as a puff of wind.

In prayer my soul inwardly exults with lively thoughts at what Thou art doing for Thy church, and I long that Thou shouldest get Thyself a great name from sinners returning to Zion.

In prayer I am lifted above the frowns and flatteries of life, and taste heavenly joys; entering into the eternal world I can give myself to Thee with all my heart, to be Thine for ever.

In prayer I can place all my concerns in Thy hands, to be entirely at Thy disposal, having no will or interest of my own.

In prayer I can intercede for my friends, ministers, sinners, the church, Thy kingdom to come, with greatest freedom, ardent hopes, as a son to his father, as a lover to the beloved.

Help me to be all prayer and never to cease praying.

(“In Prayer”)

P.S. The Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) celebrated its 50th anniversary on December 4, 2023. Here are four things I see in the PCA for which I give thanks.

(The painting is The Light of the World (1851-54) by William Holman Hunt.)