I am an old man. An old Christian man. A man who spent the vast majority of his adult life in ministry. And during that life-time of ministry I learned, largely through observation, some things that have caused me to re-think my understanding of such things as "fellowship," "prayer," and "bible reading."
The first thing I learned was that different people learn and grow at different rates. Contrary to popular opinion, one size does NOT fit all. Different people do the same things in very different ways.
For example, "fellowship." Let's start with our fellowship with God and work from there. What does it mean to have fellowship with God? My wife and I, during my active years of ministry, traveled extensively. If the trip was long we would fly. But if it were short (less than 1000 miles) we would drive. On those long trips in the car she would put her hand on the center console and I would place my hand in hers and we would hold hands. We would travel hundreds of miles without either of us saying a word, yet, there we were in perfect harmony. Perfect fellowship. Perfect communion. Not doing a thing or saying a word. In my experience, sometimes we get so busy "doing" fellowship that we miss out on fellowship altogether. Fellowship is not activity. It is communion with the Father, and communion with the saints. Psalm 46:10 pretty much says it all, "Be still, and know that I am God."
From there we can see how this can also be applied to our fellowship with other believers. I am of the opinion it is impossible for two believers to be right with God but wrong with each other. Our fellowship with others should be a reflection of our fellowship with God.
Prayer is more than just "asking and receiving." (With my apologies to John R. Rice.) Prayer certainly is about praying that God would supply our daily needs, but it is more than "give us this day our daily bread." It is also "Hallowed be thy Name." And "Thy Kingdom come." And "thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." It is also "forgive us our trespasses" and "as we forgive those who have trespassed against us." And "lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil." And, of course, "for Thine is the Kingdom, and the Power, and the Glory forever."
Prayer is as much an attitude as it is words. In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 we are told to "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing." We are to be always in an attitude of prayer. Just as my wife and I could perfectly communicate our love toward one another as we drove down the expressway without saying a word, so also we can be in an attitude of prayer without saying a word. Just aware of His presence in our lives and our presence with Him. Simply silently kneeling before the throne in close communion with our Heavenly Father.
And now to bible reading/study. I have spent, literally, a life time in bible reading, study, and teaching. I admit that today I do not have a "bible reading plan" where I read a certain number of chapters per day, or have a set time to read my bible. But what I do is something modern day Christendom has largely forgotten. I meditate. I
think about the bible and spiritual things. I
ponder God, myself, and our relationship. I think about what I have already read and know (or at least think I know) from the bible. And in doing this I find I can come to a much deeper understanding than the daily bible "fix" the average Christian gets from his devotional guide. "Read a verse or two. Read this encouraging story. Pray rub-a-dub-dub, thanks for the grub" and somehow think that suffices as "daily devotions."
So, I changed how I do things. Now I follow the Godly examples from the bible.
Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt
meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
Psalm 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he
meditate day and night.
Psalm 63:6 When I remember thee upon my bed, and
meditate on thee in the night watches.
Psalm 77:12 I will
meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.
Psalm 119:15 I will
meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.
Psalm 119:23 thy servant did
meditate in thy statutes.
Psalm 119:48 My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will
meditate in thy statutes.
Psalm 119:78 I will
meditate in thy precepts.
Psalm 119:148 Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might
meditate in thy word.
Psalm 143:5 I remember the days of old; I
meditate on all thy works;
I muse on the work of thy hands.
1 Timothy 4:15
Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
But, that's just me.
