Knowing what things every Christian should do every day is not an easy task when you’re new to the faith. Well, even if you’re not new to faith it can sometimes be confusing.
Every Christian should do 3 things every single day. That includes: read their Bible with the expectation of hearing from God, praying always, and praising God through everything that happens.
Does this describe your daily life?
The stats on Bible reading and prayer aren’t pretty when it comes to churchgoers, but I’m not here to talk data, I’m here to give you the information I wish I would’ve had when I was a younger Christian.
Your daily walk as a Christian matters a lot more than you might think. It not only impacts your own heart, soul and mind, but it influences everyone you come in contact with on a daily basis.
Following these guidelines every single day, you’ll experience God in a much more fuller way and you will be blessed by it.
1. Read The Bible Expecting To Hear From God
We cannot be like the Pharisees when it comes to Bible reading.
They walked around with hats full of Scriptures that they had memorized. They took a good thing (Bible memorization) and perverted it into a bad thing (pride).
We also can’t be like the person who never reads Scripture unless it’s Sunday morning.
Both extremes are not good.
I have some tips I think you will find helpful in your Bible studies.
Quick Tips on Reading The Bible
- Make it a daily habit, even if it’s a small portion of Scripture every day.
- Don’t rush through reading. This can happen when we try to follow reading plans like reading the Bible in a year.
- Pray before you read, asking God to show you what He wants to reveal.
- Stop and dwell on Scripture when it stands out. Do more research around the topic or idea that caused you to pause.
God’s Word is precious and it took me until my late twenties to figure that out in a real impacting way.
I wasted years being driven by my own sinful heart and lusts, that I was blinded by the world around me, even though I declared to be a Christian.
This only changed when I developed the habit of consistently seeking after God through His Word daily (check out my article about focusing on God).
God Instructs Us Through His Word
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,
2 Peter 1:3
Everything we need for life–is right here in the Scripture.
God meets us when we open His Word, and He reveals Himself to us through it.
2. Pray Like Your Life Depends On It
Prayer is not only important in our lives, it’s commanded of us in Scripture.
When we read the life of Jesus, what do we see Him doing over and over again? Praying! He goes off and prays often and if the Savior of the World needs that much prayer, how much more do we?
We are commanded to pray without ceasing. When you wake up, when you’re getting dressed, on the way to work, with friends when they share their struggles, and so on. We should have a constant connection to God through prayer.
I’ve been working on this in my own life for years, but every day I have to remind myself to keep that constant flow between myself and God.
There are also different kinds of praying and even a way not to pray. Let’s look at some more Scripture to unearth more.
5 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.
Matthew 6:5-7
In the prior passage, we learned about that constant stream of prayer we are to have towards God. In this passage in Matthew, we learn about the “behind closed door” type of prayer.
In my own experience, it’s these quiet moments of deep thought and prayer towards God is where He reveals the most to my heart.
It’s only when the world is truly shut out that we can speak to God in an intimate way.
Jesus continues on in Matthew to tell us a framework in which we should use to frame this time with the Lord.
8 “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. 9 In this manner, therefore, pray:
Matthew 6:6-15
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
10 Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
13 And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
A wonderful framework is provided by Jesus on how we can structure our prayer. It’s not a hard and fast rule as we can see from the prayers of Paul in the New Testament, but it is a good foundation and framework to structure a productive prayer life, especially behind closed doors.
3. Praise God Through Everything
Thankfulness isn’t just for Thanksgiving. It’s something that we as Christians should be doing every single day.
We have so much to be thankful for in life no matter where we live in the world.
God has provided to us everything we need in life and more.
His Word tells us that He has a plan for our life (Romans 8:28, Psalm 32:8, Psalm 138:8, Jeremiah 29:11).
Knowing God is good, we have every reason for rejoicing.
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
This passage reflects the attributes of a true worshipper of God. That person is one that is rejoicing always, praying without ceasing, and in everything giving thanks to God. They are living out God’s will in their life.
Are you?
Does this describe you?
If not, do not be discouraged.
Start the change today in your life and watch as the Lord works.
Need more encouragement in your walk with the Lord? Let me suggest checking out my recommended resources where I provide both non-fiction and fiction books that will help with your walk with Christ. You can browse those resources here.