| "...with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." | | | | studying the Word of God with prayer. |
| (Romans 1-:10) | | | | 4. Church Attendance: "...not forsaking the assembling |
| When a person believes in Jesus Christ and receives | | | | of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but |
| him as Saviour and Lord with a true repentant heart, | | | | exhorting one another, and so much the more as you |
| he truly gets a new life. Yet he has little idea about | | | | see the Day approaching." (Hebrews 10:25) |
| what comes next. Whether you are a new Christian | | | | Have you noticed that in times of difficulty, you feel like |
| or have been in the Lord for a long time, here are 6 | | | | being with your family members and spending more |
| pillars on which you can build your life in Christ - and | | | | time with them? It helps you recharge your batteries |
| prosper materially and spiritually! | | | | and equips you to take on life's challenges with |
| 1. Praise and Worship: Why praise God? It's simple. | | | | confidence. The Bible asks us to meet our brothers |
| Praise Him for His sacrifice as part of His plan of | | | | and sisters in Christ frequently and spend time |
| salvation for us. That's just one of the reasons. Only | | | | together in the Word and in prayer. Corporate worship, |
| God is perfect and holy. So only He deserves our | | | | prayer and Bible study are powerful tools to thwart |
| undivided praise and worship. And believe me; worship | | | | the Enemy's attacks on every area of your life. The |
| also opens doors to healing and deliverance, besides | | | | Bible says that one man shall chase a 1000 and 2 shall |
| edifying us (building us up). God's name is exalted and | | | | chase 10000. (Deuteronomy 32:30) Imagine how many |
| the devil is shown his true place, even without making | | | | in the devil's camp would flee if just 50 born-again |
| a mention of him. | | | | believers got together every day for a few minutes in |
| You can praise and give thanks through speech, song, | | | | Jesus' name! "For where two or three are gathered |
| your body language and so on. It all begins with | | | | together in My name, I am there in the midst of them." |
| thanksgiving - and ends with it too! | | | | (Matthew 18:20) I once read the following message in |
| 2. Prayer: They say, "prayer is the force that moves | | | | a bookshop: "1 + God = Majority." And majority wins. |
| the hand that rules the world." The Bible tells us that, | | | | Imagine what the equation "50 + God" would mean! |
| "The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man | | | | That's why going to church every Sunday is so very |
| avails much." (James 5:16) Once you have worshipped | | | | important. |
| and thanked the Lord, you move into prayer mode. | | | | 5. Applying the Word: You probably know that Jesus |
| Paul tells us in Philippians 4:6, that "Be anxious for | | | | said, "if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say |
| nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, | | | | to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will |
| with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to | | | | move; and nothing will be impossible for you." (Matthew |
| God;" Ask only once and then thank Him for answering | | | | 17:20) What we can (and shouldn't) miss, is that Jesus |
| your prayers. Don't keep repeating your requests. God | | | | was telling this to you and me too. He told us to speak |
| is not hard of hearing! He knows about your needs | | | | to our mountains (to our problems) rather than speak |
| even before you ask Him (Matthew 6:8). | | | | to God about our mountains. Now that's called |
| 3. Bible Study: They say that we speak to God | | | | "applying the Word." The Bible says, "...be doers of the |
| through prayer and God speaks to us through His | | | | word, and not hearers only,deceiving yourselves." |
| written Word - the Bible. There is also a spoken Word, | | | | (James 1:22) God really knew what He wanted us to |
| the Rhema. But you cannot expect to get a spoken | | | | do - to take authority in the name of Jesus and chase |
| Word from God if you ignore His written Word. Daily | | | | our problems out. Applying the Word of God makes it |
| reading and study of the Bible is very important. The | | | | so difficult for the problems to stay in your life that |
| Bible is an account of God's hand at work through the | | | | they have to flee, in Jesus' name. |
| ages to redeem mankind from sin and its | | | | 6. Fasting: You cannot arm-twist God into giving you |
| consequences. Right from the time Adam and Eve | | | | what you want, by fasting and praying. Rather in |
| sinned, God has been working incessantly to bring | | | | fasting, you abstain yourself from food to partake of |
| mankind back from sin to Himself. | | | | the food that does not go stale - God's Word. When |
| "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my | | | | you meditate upon God's Word on an empty stomach, |
| path." (Psalm 119:105) The Bible also serves as the road | | | | you bring your body into line with the Word of God. |
| map of life. No matter what life challenge you're facing, | | | | Those who fast as a matter of habit say it is easier to |
| the Word of God can lead you to the solution. That's | | | | commune with God in prayer and gain insight into |
| because our Creator Himself has authored it. The best | | | | Scripture. But as a note of caution, always consult |
| way to study the Bible is to buy a Study Bible like The | | | | your doctor before you undertake a fast. Start in a |
| Open Bible or the Thompson Chain-Reference Bible. | | | | small way, say, by having a lighter meal or skipping a |
| Use one of the study methods outlined in them and | | | | snack. |
| simply do not look back! After a while, try out the other | | | | Making these 6 pillars a part of your life will help you |
| study methods too - you'll discover the deep truths of | | | | cooperate with God in bringing His plan for your life to |
| God as the Holy Spirit quickens the Scripture for you. | | | | fruition. |
| One suggestion, though: always begin reading and | | | | |