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Guest blogger: Rick Osborne
website/blog: http://rick-osborne.com
twitter: @rickosborne

Day two
•    Slowly read Philippians 4:1 -20 to help you get a context for today’s reading.
•    Next pray and sincerely ask God to plant his Word in you and change you into the person he created you to be. Don’t just say the words; he’s right there with you, take a few minutes and talk to him from your heart. (If you’re having trouble believing that you can change ask him for help with that as well.)
•    Now read just verses 4 and 5. Read them slowly and think over what is being said. Read them again and again.

4. Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

5. Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.

•    Now ask yourself questions and discuss the answers with God. Here are some that you can start with.
•    Rejoice in the Lord, what does that mean? (Think and pray about it.)
•    ‘In the Lord’ what does that mean?
•    Why does Paul repeat himself?
•    Am I rejoicing in the Lord always?
•    What can I do to get better at maintaining a thankful, trusting and rejoicing attitude?
•    Is my gentleness evident to everyone?
•    Is my gentleness consistent or on and off again?
•    Is there someone I need to apologize to and start being gentle with in the future?
•    Prayerfully read the verses again and ask yourself which of the questions did you answer in a way that you made you realize that a change needs to happen?
•    Finally what are you going to do about it? Talk to God, decide and go do it.

Guest blogger: Rick Osborne
website/blog: http://rick-osborne.com
twitter: @rickosborne

Day one

• Slowly read Philippians 4:1-20 to help you get a context for today’s reading.
• Next pray and sincerely ask God to plant his Word in you and change you into the person he created you to be. Don’t just say the words; he’s right there with you, take a few minutes and talk to him from your heart. (If you’re having trouble believing that you can change, ask him for help with that as well.)
• Now read just the first three verses. Read them slowly and think over what is being said. Read them again and again.

1. Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!

2. I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord.

3. Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

• Now ask yourself questions and discuss the answers with God. Here are some that you can start with.
• Would my pastor and or Spiritual leaders call me a joy? Why or why not? If not, pray and talk to God about change.
• Do I love and look forward to being with other Christians?
• Am I standing firm in the Lord?
• Am I doing all that I can right now to come into agreement and solve disagreements with the people in my life?
• Am I encouraging others in my life to solve their disagreements with others?
• Am I contending in the cause of the Gospel?
• Prayerfully read the verses again and ask yourself which of the questions did you answer in a way that you made you realize that a change needs to happen?
• Finally what are you going to do about it? Talk to God, decide and go do it.

[Special thanks to author, speaker, teacher and friend Mr. Rick Osborne for his contribution to my blog this week. May you blessed as you grow in spiritual maturity through practicing this dedicated and focused daily reading plan of the Bible.]

Rick Osborne
website/blog: http://rick-osborne.com
twitter: @rickosborne

If you’ve been a Christian for any length of time, you’ve been told, encouraged and even prodded to read your Bible daily. I’ve heard Bible Teachers tell those that they’re prodding to start with 5 minutes a day or one chapter a day and work their way up. The people who’ve worked their way up I suppose are the ones who read their Bible through several times a year, every year.

That’s good, but I think that sometimes people get the wrong idea about what reading your Bible is truly all about when they hear these quick get-with-it plans. Let me say this, if you’re reading the Bible just for the sake of the task, then you’re missing out on a great blessing. Let me explain.

Here’s what James said, “Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it–he will be blessed in what he does.” (James 1:21-25)

There’s a place for reading through the Bible. However, for daily devotions I would rather read three verses and come away with God’s truth planted in my heart and with understanding ringing in my mind and Spirit motivated change taking root in my heart and life.

Here’s James’ recipe: Open your Bible because you know God wants to use it to change the way you think and therefore act and grow you in your salvation. Humble yourself, which means determine that God’s Word is right and you’re wrong. Let God plant his truth inside you while you’re reading and decide to act on what you learn. Then keep acting on it until it becomes who you are. Finally receive God’s blessing.

Oh yeah, no excuses like,” I just can’t” or “I’ve always been this way” or “I don’t know how” or even “God understands, he made this way”. Sorry, it’s God’s program for all of us to grow and change and he didn’t make the parts of your character and the expressions of your personality that need changing, therefore, you can change. When God plants seeds, he’s able to see their growth through to maturity. He’s promised to work in us, our job is to follow James’ recipe and trust God to do the rest.

I’ve written a seven-day devotional program to help walk you through what Bible reading should look like. It only covers 20 verses for the week, but if you do it properly, each day’s devotion should take you awhile to get through.