One Year Bible Reading Plan and Devotional
Today’s Bible Reading: January 20
Download the full one-year Bible reading plan here:
One Year Bible Reading Plan
Clicking on the Scripture links above will open a new window where you can read the scripture from the Holman Christian Standard Bible at Biblegateway.com or choose the Bible version you prefer to read. Check back each day to get the Scripture to read in the One Year Bible Reading Plan.
Is Prayer Really Important?
Prayer doesn’t change God – it changes me
In a scene from Shadowlands, a film based on the life of C.S. Lewis, Lewis has returned to Oxford from London, where he has just been married to Joy Gresham, an American woman, in a private Episcopal ceremony performed at her hospital bedside. She is dying from cancer, and, through the struggle with her illness, she and Lewis have been discovering the depth of their love for each other. As Lewis arrives at the college where he teaches, he is met by Harry Harrington, an Episcopal priest, who asks what news there is. Lewis hesitates; then, deciding to speak of the marriage and not the cancer, he says, “Ah, good news, I think, Harry. Yes, good news.”
Harrington, not aware of the marriage and thinking that Lewis is referring to Joy’s medical situation, replies, “I know how hard you’ve been praying …. Now, God is answering your prayer.”
“That’s not why I pray, Harry,” Lewis responds. “I pray because I can’t help myself. I pray because I’m helpless. And, I pray because the need flows out of me all the time, waking and sleeping. It doesn’t change God; it changes me.”
Is Prayer Important?
Prayer is one of the most important things a Christian can do. Through prayer we communicate with God and therefore, it should be taken very seriously. It doesn’t have to be complicated and difficult. It doesn’t come with a magic formula. There aren’t certain words that God pays attention to more. It’s something anyone can do anywhere at any time. And it’s something every Christian should constantly – without ceasing. But please, if you’re driving, please pray with your eyes open – God still hears, I promise!
Jesus found it important to pray
Jesus found it important to pray while He lived on this earth. In Matthew 14:23, Jesus has just finished feeding 5000 people and he sends them home. He then sends the disciples in a boat to the other side of the sea. Jesus climbed a mountain to have some time alone and pray to His Father. He stayed there until late into the night.
Through prayer, we get to know God
Prayer is one of the ways that we get to know our Heavenly Father. It’s impossible to know someone if you don’t talk to them. As we pray, we discover God’s will, He will convict of sin, and He will reveal His heart to us. If you want a relationship with God, you must seek Him with all your heart and one way to seek Him is through prayer. You can’t have a relationship with someone if your refuse to speak to them.
Through prayer, we fight spiritual battles
Another reason prayer is important is because we fight spiritual battles in prayer. It is through prayer that Satan is defeated and the strongholds that hold as captive are broken. The Word of God is our sword in the battle, but prayer gives us the strength and the faith to be victorious. Satan’s goal is to destroy us, make us ineffective for the cause of Christ. God’s goal is to bring us closer to Him.
Through prayer, God makes us more like Him
As we spend time with God in prayer, God works on our hearts and He changes us so that we are becoming more and more like Him. It’s been said that couples who have been married a long time slowly begin to look and act like one another. They’ve spent so much of their lives together that it becomes difficult to see the individual characteristics they each brought to the relationship in the beginning.
The same is true with God. The more time we spend with Him, the more like Him we become. Our habits and lifestyle will changes. Our language will change. Through prayer, our priorities will change. Our attitudes will change. We will no longer live a self-centered life, but instead, we will love our neighbor as we love our self and we will love God with all our heart, mind, and soul. Instead of an “it’s all about me” mentality, we will find joy in serving others.
Through prayer, we find strength when life is hard
In prayer we find strength for difficult circumstances. As Jesus faced the cross, He went to the Garden to pray. He knew what was waiting for him after He left the Garden. But it was in the garden that he prayed and found strength for what was coming. How often have you been in something very difficult, heartbreaking in life and instead of going to your Father in prayer, you became angry and bitter at him. These are the moment we should too God – not away from Him.
Through prayer we discover God’s will for our lives
In prayer we can seek the face of God to understand His will for our lives. With every major decision we face, we need to be sure we are seeking God and asking for His wisdom and guidance so that we make the right decisions. Sometimes, it takes time and hard, earnest praying to get an answer, but He will give you an answer at just the right moment.
Is prayer important? Yes! When was the last time you got alone with your Heavenly Father and spent time talking with Him in prayer and then pause to listen for His voice?
#ReadYourBible #Genesis #Matthew
Now you can enhance your Bible Reading with the Verse Mapping Template
Our Verse Mapping download is FREE and includes 6 pages: 3 pages of instructions for using the template and the 2 page template, plus the cover page. If you’re looking to go deeper into God’s Word, learn more about God and develop a stronger spiritual life, Verse Mapping will help you dig into the scriptures. As you apply God’s Word to your life, you will develop a more intimate knowledge and relationship with God.
Visit our three retail experiences:
Tee of the Week: The Greatest Valentine’s Day
On Valentine’s Day, we celebrate love and there’s no greater love than Christ who laid down His life so that we can have eternal life. From John 3:16, this design is on t-shirts, long-sleeved tees, kids tees, mugs, bags, tumblers and more. Click the link to see all the available products in this design.
Do you have an event on the calendar and need a speaker?
We’re offering 30% off our speaker fees as our gift to you if you book any 2022 event with us by December 31, 2021. Call today and use the discount code: CHRISTMAS2021.
We’re excited to be a part of your ministry and can’t wait to see you – no matter what size your event.
904.239.8937
Visit our YouTube Channels for Christian playlists and our short animated devotionals.
Animated Devotionals
Contemporary Christian Music Playlist
Southern Gospel Playlist
Just Hymns
God, Love, and Marshmallow Wars
by Julia M. Bruce
What’s Inside God, Love, and Marshmallow Wars?
This book includes 365 daily activities and takes you on a guided journey through Biblical principles about Godly marriage that you can then apply to your marriage, as well as helping you talk through concepts that can help you develop a solid relationship. Inside you will find simple, quick activities that include:
- Scripture to memorize and meditate on
- Conversation Starters
- Concepts from the Bible on Godly marriages
- Romance Builders
- Relationship Builders
- Personal reflections
- Date ideas
- Group date ideas for you and other Christian couples
Available in hardback, paperback and ebook from Westbow Press Bookstore, Christian Book Distributors, Amazon, and Barnes & Nobel. Click the icons below to purchase from your preferred bookstore. Now also available at WalMart online.
Join the community of couples on Facebook who are committed to intentionally growing their marriage and learning how to have a marriage that honors God. Here you can post photos of the different activities as you do them, ask questions of other couples, share how God is using this book to strengthen your marriage, and grow with other Christian couples. We’ll see you in the community.
Bible Studies, Bibles, Books & More
Looking for a Bible Study, Bible, book or Christian gift? We are an affiliate with Christianbook Distributors and receive an 8% commission on any item purchased through one of our links. However, the commission never increases your cost of any item. View some of our favorite items by clicking on the logo and thank you for supporting our ministry.
Wellspring Christian Ministries receives an 8% commission on any purchased made from Christian Book Distributors through any affiliate link on this site. Your price for any item is the same as purchasing from CBD directly.
See our other recent posts:
904.239.8937
A non-profit ministry located in Jacksonville, FL
Follow us on:
Would you consider giving Wellspring a Christmas gift this year? We’re raising fund for some media equipment needed for our ministry. 
BOOKING NOW! Be a host site for the NEW God, Love & Marshmallow Wars Book Tour & Couples Conference:
Christmas Items at Christian Book Distributors:
By Stephen Kendrick & Alex Kendrick / B&H Books
