Monday, December 30, 2013

How Much Time Should You Put into This Devotional Bible Study?

How Much Time Should You Put into This Devotional Bible Study?

The answer is: It depends.

Now, the answer I give below may sound intimidating. That is not my intent. The simplest answer is do what you can and what God tells you to do. Five minutes per day is the bare minimum. Something is better than none. However, the more you put into it, the more you will get out of it.

That being said, what do you want to do? And, what is God telling you to do? The latter is the most important, of course. Do what you need—and I guarantee you’ll discover you need it more each and every day—as the deer pants for the water (see Psalm 42:1-2).

Tip: Build on it each day. Add a little more time, intentionally, each day.

Are you used to doing a daily Bible study? If so, then I would say spending half an hour in the morning, at lunch, when you get home, and before you go to bed would be the most ideal, plus thinking on it all day and all night--literally. But, this is the ideal, if you want to get the maximum out of it and are already in the habit of having a daily time with God.

If you are not used to having daily time with God, start out with five to ten minutes in the morning for the first three days, then, add ten minutes in the evening for the next three days. Then, add ten minutes at lunch for the next three days. Keep adding ten minutes every three days until you are up to thirty minutes four times a day. But, again, that’s the ideal.

Do what you can when you can. But, whatever you do, keep adding more and more time with God, and thinking on this study, until you are doing it, thinking on it, all day and all night. It may take a few 40 day devotional Bible studies to get to that point, but when you do, it will be worth it. You will be living fully for God and His will at that point and not for your own.

READ 1 DAY AT A TIME

Read this Bible study one day at a time in order to get the most out of it. Also, re-read it over and over throughout the day. Chew on each word, contemplate them. Listen to God, be open to His direction.

I cannot recommend enough prayer journaling about your daily reading throughout the day and all day and night long. After all, prayer journaling makes you become invested in the material and helps you to think on it, learn from it, and apply it to your life. But, most importantly, it will help you remember what you have read and learned and will help you apply it not just today but in the future.

Also, look up each verse in your own Bible—even if it’s the same version listed in the study—and even if you use a bible on your phone, tablet, laptop, or computer. Why do this? It makes sure I didn’t misquote anything or use the wrong verse, for starters. I am human, sinful, and fallible, after all. But, more importantly, looking up each verse for yourself gets you into the Word of God today. It connects you with the Almighty One and His Holy Word. It is sacred. We live in an age where some cannot open a bible, ever, lest they are imprisoned or killed. And, we have no idea how long we will be able to do so ourselves. Therefore, let’s appreciate fully the opportunity we have to be able to turn to the Word of God and the Holy Bible.

Get the most out of each day in this study. Think on it day and night. Take your time. Do not rush this. Make sure to maximize everything you read, think, and do with each day’s devotional Bible study.

I also recommend looking at this book and your prayer journal once a year or more after you complete it. You’ll get even more out of it as you do.

This is meant to be a life-changing devotional Bible study; therefore, it will take work and intentionality on your part. The more you put into it, the more you will get out of it.

Good Morning, Lord: A Prayer

Good Morning, Lord: A Prayer

Good morning, Lord.

How sweet it is to wake up knowing You are in my life and are working in my life, around my life, and through my life. You are always with me and forever present. You never leave me and certainly never forsake me (1 Kings 6:13; 1 Kings 8:57; Isaiah 42:16; Hebrews 13:5).

I also start this day knowing I have two choices:

1 Make today all about me or partially about me.

2 Make this day all about You.

I woke today because You wanted me to do so. That means You have a purpose for me this day. Am I going to live it? This is my choice.

Lord, guide me. Help me every second, minute, and hour, to make today all about You and not about me.

For, today is Your day. There is no better day.

Psalm 118:24 * Expanded Bible (EXB)

24 This is the day that the Lord has made.

Let us rejoice and be glad ·today [in it]!

PRAYER JOURNALING AND CONTEMPLATION

How can I make today more about You, Lord?

How can I make each day ALL about You, Lord?
What is Your purpose (or purposes) for me today? This week? This month? This quarter? This year? This decade?

(Image Credit: Stacy Duplease: The sunrise. 2011.)

Sunday, December 29, 2013

My Daily Bible Reading Plan for 2014

This year, I am using YouVersion.com for my Bible reading and I started my three plans two days ago. I doing:

1 The M'Cheyne Plan in a year.
2 The New Testament in a Year.
3 Psalms and Proverbs in a month and am doing it every month all year.

So, what about you? What's your plan?

I will keep you updated about my progress and will also include daily devotionals on this blog, which will be notes from my readings.

(Image Credit: Microsoft Images 2011-2013.)

Read this book for free: Wattpad.com Version of Book

READ THIS BLOG IN BOOK FORM:

I realize that reading a blog post series and book on a blog can be difficult. Hence, I will offer this book and blog post series in another format. Check out the FREE version of each book here:

http://www.wattpad.com/33793430-40-days-of-a-new-year-and-a-new-beginning-parable

*** Please note: A Word of Caution for my wattpad.com books: There is a reason why these books are free and are incomplete. They are rough drafts and need editing, along with additional material. The books that will be for sale later will be edited and will contain more material. ***

I will add the latest to Wattpad.com, and the above link, at least once a week, if not more, and will let you know in a blogpost when I do.

Why Read This Book? (Round Two)

Why Read This Book?

Is this the beginning of a New Year?

Is this the end of another year?

Is this a new beginning for you?

If you answered yes to any of the above, then this is the book for you. After all, at any point in our lives, we can decide to stop and start again in our minds. We have that choice.

If it was June 25^th and I wanted to start over, I could. Yes. It’s just in my mind, but that is well enough, thank you very much. If I can live the best life possible over the next year, I would like to start it immediately and not have to wait for the New Year. I don’t know about you. Never mind how sometimes, I’ve made mistakes and can sure use a new start. But, then there are the times when life has served up far more lemons than anything else and the concept of a new beginning is sweet.

The fact that as I write this blog post, which will be turned into a book, on 29^thof December just adds to the mystery of this new beginning in my life.

Now, what about you? Do you need to start over? Do you need a new beginning? Or, is this the New Year for you?

If you like the concept of a New beginning, then the next 40 days are the perfect chance for you. Come. Join me and others in this adventure.

Why Read This Book? (Back Cover Information)

Do you want or need to start over and try a new beginning?

If so, this 40 day devotional Bible study is just the one for you.

In the next forty days, we will look at where we came from, where we want to head, and how to get there. We will learn how to color each moment of our lives into a beautiful mosaic—and not allow nature to take its course.

What does your ideal like look like? We will uncover this and figure out how to head in that direction.

What can you learn from the past so that the future can be the best that it can be?

How can you live the best life God intended for you—today, tomorrow, and all year long is another thing we will look at in this 40 day devotional Bible study.

Do you want to start over and have a new beginning?

This blog post series and book are for you. Shall we get started?

WRITING PLAN 2014 FOR "A GODLY VISION SERIES"

WRITING PLAN 2014 FOR "A GODLY VISION SERIES"

Book 1 = 40 Days of a New Year and a New Beginning Parable

Book 2 = 40 Days of a Patriotic Bible Study

Book 3 = 40 Days of Psalms

Book 4 = 40 Days of the Gospels

Book 5 = 40 Days of a Patriotic Bible Study 2

Book 6 = 40 Days of Thanks

Book 7 = 40 Days of Proverbs

Book 8 = 40 Days of a Patriotic Bible Study 3

Book 9 = 40 Days of Closing a Year or a Chapter in Life

(Image Credit: Microsoft Images Online 2011-2013.)

Day 1: A New Year or a New Beginning: A Parable of the Life of a Tree and Its Leaves

Isaiah 43:18 * Expanded Bible (EXB)

18 The Lord says, “Forget what happened before,

and do not ·think about [consider; dwell on] the past.

-- EXB: Scripture taken from The Expanded Bible. Copyright © 2011 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

A PARABLE ABOUT THE NEW YEAR AND A NEW BEGINNING
Every person is a tree.
Every tree, every life has leaves, roots, and fruit.
God grows and fertilizes the tree and its fruit. That is His responsibility, not ours. He is the one who helps us to bear much fruit. He even helps grow leaves and roots.
But, where do we come into the picture, besides as a tree?
Every year, trees lose their leaves in the Fall and regrow them in the Spring, if they are of that variety of tree. These are the tree only trees, by the way.
But, then there are the person trees whose lives are symbolized by the trees. They have leaves year round and are given additional leaves at the beginning of each new year. The question is what we are going to do with each leaf, which each represents a new day. Are we going to made different shapes with that leaf and color it in bright, new ways? Or, are we going to neglect it and not do much with it? Or, worse yet, are we going to live this day, this leaf, as if it's our own and completely ignore the Gardener, God?
In 2014, let us take each new leaf of a new day and make it God's day, not our own. Let us live smack-dab in the middle of His will and His path, not in the one we choose. May we be in the Word, in thanksgiving, and in prayer as we help teach others about the New Life in Him.
So, how will you choose this day to color your leaf?
At the end of the year, will you have a bright, bold, colorful tree? Or will it be full of dark brown or black leaves? And, how much fruit will you allow God to bear through you and your life?

MORAL OF THE STORY
Every New Year is a New Beginning.
And, every new beginning is a new year.
At any moment, we can stop and say, "Let's try again" or "Let's start a new page." That's the beauty about life and what Jesus Christ did for us. He came so that our sins could be forgiven, so we are constantly allowed a new beginning. When we slip, we can start again and try again.
What relief.
What joy.
What a blessing.
If we have strayed from His path and gone our way, we can start all over again.
Let's not abuse it, but take advantage of the new beginning we are about to have. For, each day is His, not ours. Let's make each day bold, beautiful, and colorful in Him, in his Word, in thanksgiving, and in prayer.

Saturday, December 28, 2013

New Year Poem

New Year Poem

Instead of making a New Year's resolution
Consider committing to a biblical solution
Your promises are easily broken
Empty words, though earnestly spoken
But God's Word transforms the soul
By His Holy Spirit making you whole
As you spend time alone with Him
He will change you from within!

-- Mary Fairchild

Monday, November 25, 2013

7 Ephesians 5:15-21: Part 3

Ephesians 5:15-21 * The Message (MSG)

11-16 Don’t waste your time on useless work, mere busywork, the barren pursuits of darkness. Expose these things for the sham they are. It’s a scandal when people waste their lives on things they must do in the darkness where no one will see. Rip the cover off those frauds and see how attractive they look in the light of Christ.

Wake up from your sleep,

Climb out of your coffins;

Christ will show you the light!

So watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times!

17 Don’t live carelessly, unthinkingly. Make sure you understand what the Master wants.

18-20 Don’t drink too much wine. That cheapens your life. Drink the Spirit of God, huge draughts of him. Sing hymns instead of drinking songs! Sing songs from your heart to Christ. Sing praises over everything, any excuse for a song to God the Father in the name of our Master, Jesus Christ.

21 Out of respect for Christ, be courteously reverent to one another.[1]

PRAYER JOURNALING

1 Make sure to prayer journal your thoughts, what jumped out at you, what questions you have, what you said to God, what God said to you, and how you can apply it to your life.

2 List at least ten things for which you are thankful right now.

6 Ephesians 5:15-21: Part 2

Ephesians 5:15-21 * Expanded Bible (EXB)

15 So be very careful how you live [walk]. Do not·live [walk] like those who are not wise[foolish], but ·live wisely [like those who are wise]. 16 Take advantage of every opportunity[or Make the most of your time; …redeeming the time/season], because these are evil times [ the days are evil]. 17 So do not be·foolish [ignorant] but·learn what the Lord wants you to do [or understand the Lord’s will]. 18 Do not be drunk with wine, which ·will ruin you[is debauchery/reckless living], but be filled with the Spirit. 19 Speak [ …speaking] to each other with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord. 20 Always give [ …always giving] thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

21 Yield [Submit; Be subject;  …yielding/submitting;  grammatically linked to the previous sentence, and so part of being filled with the Spirit] to each other out of reverence [respect; fear; awe] for Christ.[1]

PRAYER JOURNALING

Make sure to prayer journal your thoughts, what jumped out at you, what questions you have, what you said to God, what God said to you, and how you can apply it to your life.

EPHESIANS 5:20

Ephesians 5:20 * GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

20 Always thank God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.[2]

Ephesians 5:20 * New King James Version (NKJV)

20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.[3]

Now, look at the versions of Ephesians 5:20 listed in Day or Chapters 5-6. What is the main idea from each of the translations or versions? Prayer journal your response before you read another word from today’s study or devotional.

ALWAYS GIVE THANKS

The Bible tells us in Ephesians 5:20 to ALWAYS give thanks. Always GIVE thanks. And, always give THANKS.

Can you tell the difference between the three things I just wrote, where I emphasized different words? Prayer journal your answer and write the differences in the meaning of each emphasized sentence of: ALWAYS GIVE THANKS.

So, we are to always give thanks.

How often is that? Prayer journal your answer.

We are to always give thanks. That means always and without stopping. It means we are to give God our thanks all day and night long, each and every day for the rest of our lives.

Prayer journal your thoughts.

READING THE BIBLE AND DOING BIBLE STUDY

Do you want to get the most out of the Bible? Do you want to grow a deeper faith each day? Do you long to hear a word from God?

If you said yes to any of those things, then let me share something with you. If you want any of those things, then you need to be in the Word of God. Period. End of story.

The Bible is His Word. It is the Lord talking to you and teaching you. It is His way of showing you the way to go. It’s instilling truth in your life.

Do you ever feel like your faith is low or running on empty? Do you ever feel like you could, and probably should, get more from your spiritual life and faith? The answer is simple. Get in His Word.

A YEAR OF ALWAYS GIVING THANKS is only one tool in your closet. Make sure as you use this devotional Bible study to look up all the verses and to do so in at least three versions of the Bible. Make sure to have your own private Bible study time and also do a Bible study with a group at least once per week. And, make sure to read your Bible each and every day all year long. If you read four chapters a day, you will read the Bible all the way through in a year, if you so desire. Or, do two chapters per day and read the Bible all the way through in two years, so you can take your time and absorb the Bible thoroughly and completely.

Implement everything in the previous paragraph, and your faith and your life will grow in leaps and bounds.

Do this for the rest of your life, each and every day, and see what God does with your life. It will be truly amazing.

ASKING A GREAT DEAL: TAKING A LOT OF TIME AND COMMITMENT

Just in case you are noticing something about A YEAR OF ALWAYS GIVING THANKS, and that is there is a great deal I am asking you to do, you’re right.

PRAYER JOURNALING

1 What did you learn today?

2 What did God say to you?

3 What did you say to God?

4 Before today, how often did you give God thanks? Was it always?

5 Write a summary of what you learned today.

6 List at least three more things you are grateful for.

What do you thank God for today?

List as many as you can in your prayer journal throughout the day and night. Be thorough. Spend as much time as you can--and even some you can't.

5 Ephesians 5:15-21: Part 1

PRAYER JOURNALING: A PRAYER OF THANKS

Write out a prayer of thanks to God before we even start the devotional today. Take some time to turn to Him and turn your heart and mind to always giving Him thanks today, this day.

List three things at least as to why you are thankful for this new day.

ALL THE BIBLE VERSES LISTED

We will try to look at several, if not all, verses about thanksgiving in the Bible. Needless to say, I am going to type out several verses for you to read, and will give several verses for you to look up, where I will say, for example, “(See Luke 9:23).”

Look all of them up in your own Bible as well. Make sure that I am not steering you wrong. For all you know, I could change a couple of words around, or worse, listed the wrong reference. Do not trust what I say. Instead, read your own Bible and see it for yourself.

WHEN IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE OR DOESN’T REALLY GRAB YOU: If you read the translation or version I have listed, and it does not grab you, then try to read the same verse or verses from your favorite version of the Bible. Does that help you get more out of the verse? If so, great. If not, check out another version of the Bible.

WHEN YOU WANT TO GET THE MOST OUT OF A VERSE: Look up as many translations or versions of the verse or passage as time will allow. I recommend for each time you look up a verse or verses, look up at least three version, but preferably more. Why? The more versions you look at, the more you will get out of it and the greater and more in-depth grasp you will have of the text.

Personally, I try to look up at least five versions, but will also look up more when I really want to study something.

So, make sure to look up at least three versions of the Bible of everything I list or type out. Then, you will get the most out of this you can.

Also, as you read each and every verse in this A YEAR OF ALWAYS GIVING THANKS, make sure to prayer journal your thoughts, what jumped out at you, what questions you have, what you said to God, what God said to you, and how you can apply it to your life. Why? Again, the more you put into it, the more you’ll get out of it—pure and simple.

EXPANDED TEXT

I think you will start to see a pattern in my writing and in this devotional. If it’s a really good passage of Scripture, jammed-pack with golden nuggets, I am going to list more than just the verse that talks about thanks. After all, the more we look at the context of the verse about thanks, the more we will understand what thanks is, how to give it, what it means, etc.

Today is another example of me expanding to show more than just the verse of thanks (see Ephesians 5:20). Write out Ephesians 5:20 in your prayer journal at this point. I recommend writing at least three versions of the verse in your prayer journal. Then, pick one to memorize.

Ephesians 5:15-21 * New American Standard Bible (NASB)

15 Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, 16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil. 17 So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; 20 always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; 21 and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.^{^[1]}

PRAYER JOURNALING

1 Make sure to prayer journal your thoughts, what jumped out at you, what questions you have, what you said to God, what God said to you, and how you can apply it to your life. Also, is there a verse or verses you want to memorize or at least look at each day? Pick at least one.

2 What did you learn from verses 15 and 16?

3 How can you be careful how you walk, my friend?

4 How can you make the most of your time?

5 How can you avoid evil during your day? The answer is found in verses 15-16. Prayer journal the answer.

6 What did you learn from verse 17?

7 How do you avoid foolishness? (The answer lies in verses 15-17.)

8 How do you understand what the will of God is? (The answer lies in verses 15-17.)

9 What have you said to God up to this point?

10 What has God said to you up to this point?

11 List at least five things in which you are grateful for.

12 How can you apply these verses to your life today, tomorrow, and in the future?

The FIRST Thanksgiving

What you know about history might be wrong. (I say with a smile on my face and offer you a wink.) I know most of what I knew about American History was wrong until I moved to Virginia a while ago. So, I wanted to share this new factoid with you.

The First Thanksgiving did not happen where or when you might think. (I know I didn't know this until somewhat recently.) It happened in Virginia, believe it or not, at the Berkeley Plantation in what is now Charles City, Virginia in the year 1619.

It was based on the tradition to give thanks to God and was about prayer. So, yes, it was a religious and spiritual tradition. Take a look at each these links to learn the true history about the First Thanksgiving in the United States of America (particularly link 3):

1 http://www.berkeleyplantation.com/index.html

2 http://www.berkeleyplantation.com/4-centuries.html#fourcenturiestop

3 http://www.berkeleyplantation.com/the-new-world.html

(Side-Note: I also have found out since I moved here that I am a distant relative of the Harrisons.)

(Image Credit: Microsoft Images Online)

4 Keep a Thanksgiving List

Make sure to prayer journal about at least three things you are thankful for each day.
I keep a list of 25 things I am thankful each day, where I add a couple items to my list all day and night long—so I am always giving thanks to God.
Start your list today, but try your hand with listing 25. From here on out, write as many as you can per day, with a minimum of at least three, but preferably more.

Sunday, November 24, 2013

3 1 Chronicles 16:8-9: Part 2

1 Chronicles 16:8-9 * Expanded Bible (EXB)

8 Give thanks to the Lord and pray to him [L call upon his name].

Tell [Make known among; Proclaim to] the nations [world; peoples] what he has done [his deeds/accomplishments].

9 Sing to him; sing praises [make music] to him.

Tell about all his ·miracles [wonders; wonderful acts/works].[1]

I have the feeling you might wonder how much time we are going to spend on the passage of 1 Chronicles 16:8-9, but there is a reason we are spending so much time on the verses. Actually, there are a couple of reasons:

1 We should never rush through the Word of God. We should take our time with it and spend as much time in it as possible. The more we time we spend on it, the more we ponder it and think on it, the more we apply it to the lives, the better.

2 It is an important passage about giving thanks and tells us why and how to give thanks.

So, let’s spend another day on this passage—today.

Moreover, there is a reason why we are looking at several translations of the same biblical passage. It’s because the more versions or translations of the verses we read, the more broader and in-depth understanding we will glean, just like the more time we spend on it will bring more understanding and comprehension as well.

I think if we were to take one verse from the Bible and study it alone all day and night long for the rest of our lives, we would discover we learn something new about the verse each day. After all, the Bible is living and active:

Hebrews 4:12 * New American Standard Bible (NASB)

12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.[2]

PRAYER JOURNALING QUESTIONS

1 Spend some time and give God thanks and pray to Him in your prayer journal, as it says in verse 8.

2 Write your thoughts about 1 Chronicles 16:8-9 from the version written out in Day 3, just before this section and afterward. What did you learn?

3 What have you said to God?

4 What has God said to you?

5 What can you apply to your life? How? Plan to do so immediately and make sure to prayer journal your plan about how to apply 1 Chronicles 16:8-9 to your life.

1 Chronicles 16:8-9 * New Century Version (NCV)

8 Give thanks to the Lord and pray to him.

Tell the nations what he has done.

9 Sing to him; sing praises to him.

Tell about all his miracles.[3]

PRAYER JOURNALING QUESTIONS: TELL WHAT GOD HAS DONE

1 What has God done in your life—today, yesterday, in the last week, in the last month, in the last three months, in the last six months, in the last year? In the last two years? Five years? Ten? More? Be thorough. List as many things as you can. This will take hours to days to weeks or months to get it all down on the page. Spend some time here.

2 1 Chronicles 16:8-9: Part 1

1 Chronicles 16:8-9 * GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

8 “Give thanks to the Lord.

Call on his name.

Make known among the nations what he has done.

9 Sing to him.

Make music to praise him.

Meditate on all the miracles he has done.[1]

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT THANKS?

Ideally, we will go through the Bible and read every single thing the Word of God says about thanksgiving and ingratitude in the next year. But, there is so much to cover, so we will see how far we can get in the study, look, and reflection (Hint: There might need to be another book of this type written—or maybe three or four. We shall see.)

This is the first reference we will look at: 1 Chronicles 16:8-9. Let’s first, however, start with a baseline and figure out where we are with thanksgiving in our lives and in the Bible.

Remember the rule of thumb for this entire year: The more you put into this year, the more you will get out of it.

PRAYER JOURNALING QUESTIONS

Today has quite a few questions, but it is for a reason. Please answer each and as thoroughly as you can. Do not give simple answers and make sure to explain your answers. Be thorough. Write more than you normally would in response to each question. Remember the rule of thumb for this entire year: The more you put into this year, the more you will get out of it.

1 Define thanks.

2 How do you offer thanks to someone?

3 How do you offer thanks to God?

4 How often do you try to offer God thanks?

5 How often should you offer God thanks”

6 What can you do in order to offer God more thanks in your life?

7 So, what does the Bible say about thanks? Write in your prayer journal anything that comes to mind.

8 What do you think the Bible says about thanks?

9 Write your thoughts about 1 Chronicles 16:8-9 from the version written out in Day 1.

10 Write your thoughts about 1 Chronicles 16:8-9 from the version written out in Day 2.

11 What did you say to God about questions 1-4 today?

12 What did God say to you about questions 1-5 today?

13 What do you hope to get out of the next year?

WRITE A PRAYER OF THANKS

Write a prayer of thanks about everything from Day 1 and 2. Make sure to thank Him for as many things as you can. In other words, be thorough. Do not shortchange your thanks to God for anything from this devotional or from what God has done throughout your day and night the last two days.

Also, as you give God thanks, thank Him for certain things from your past, things from today, and things from the future.

This does not have to be a formal prayer by any means. What matters is that you make it personal. It’s also okay for it to be rough and unpolished. God does not care about that. He care about your heart. That’s all. So, do not put undue pressure on yourself.

As you pray, think of God as your father or your best friend or both, whichever is easier for you. Pour out your heart to Him.