A New Year of Dwelling in the Word

It's a new day in a new year. Although the calendar is a arbitrary way of slicing up time, it is the method most of us use. Each day is a new opportunity to make plans, change course, or dream new dreams. For many the idea of making resolutions in the new year is silly. If you have made resolutions in the past, but failed to keep them you might be hesitant to make new ones this year. So don't. Don't make any resolutions. Why make resolutions that you aren't going to keep.

Why not make a plan instead? Instead of a vague resolution like "I will lose weight this year." Why not come up with an actual plan? There are thousands of places that you can borrow a plan from. They all typically involve: healthy eating, exercise, and accountability. Why not select a weight loss program and ask family and friends to spend the next 6 weeks making changes? Make a plan (or borrow one). Take it one day at a time. Do it together.

Why not approach our spiritual growth in a similar fashion? As I began pondering the new year, Colossians 3:16 came to mind. Paul states, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs" (Col. 3:16). How can I let the word of Christ dwell in me richly?

In order for the word to dwell in someone, they must dwell in the word. Jesus said, "I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing" (John 15:5). How do you dwell in the word of Christ? By reading, studying, memorizing, praying, and meditating upon the word of God.

Let's not resolve to do these things for the new year. Let's make a plan to accomplish these these things in the new year.

1. Reading the Bible in the New Year.

There are several plans out there that will take you through the whole Bible in one year. Some will take you through the New Testament in a year. Some plans last two or three years. Some plans can be completed in as little as 10-15 minutes a day, and some require much more time. Some focus on several passages, while others focus on one book at a time. Find a plan and stick to it. Invite friends and family to read with you.

Justin Taylor put together a list of Bible reading plans. You can find them here.

Ligonier Ministries also put together a list. You can find it here.

Joe Carter offered different approach to Bible reading in a year. Check it out here.

2. Study the Bible in the New Year.

Again there are several resources out there that could help you accomplish this, but I will recommend three basic resources that will help you grow in your study of the Bible.

Living by the Book by Howard G. Hendricks and William D. Hendricks
Read the Bible for Life by George H. Guthrie
How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth by Gordon D. Fee and Douglas Stuart

3. Memorizing the Bible in the New Year.

Again, there are several resources available to help you with memorizing Scripture. I use Fighter Verses on my iphone, but you can access them on here.

Here are a couple of articles to encourage you: Five Tips for Bible Memory and Are We Using Our Memory for the Glory of God.

4. Praying the Bible in the New Year.

Donald Whitney's book Praying the Bible is a great resource. It is simple and straight forward. It doesn't take a lot of time to read, and can be put into to practice quickly.

5. Meditating on the Bible in the New Year.

Donald Whitney's methods of meditation is my go-to resource. You can find a copy here.


What is your plan for dwelling in Christ this year? Why not pick a Bible reading plan and print out a few copies to give to family and friends? Why not get a few resources and begin working through the process? Don't leave your spiritual growth the chance this year. Make a plan. Stick to it. Get others involved.

Note: I chose the Daily Bible Reading Plan found in the ESV Study Bible. Bro. Ray Gilliland, a mentor and friend, recommended reading through a study Bible in a year, so this year I'm hope to read through the ESV study Bible.

Praying Through the Psalms

This article was originally published here, on August 1, 2009.


"Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips! Do not let my heart incline to any evil, to busy myself with wicked deeds in company with men who work iniquity, and let me not eat of their delicacies" (Ps. 141:3-4).

The Psalms are an excellent training ground to learn how to pray. They cover the whole range of human emotion and experience. They reflect earnest trust in a Sovereign who is ever-present and willing to hear the prayers of his people. They reflect an honest and often raw expression of the soul onto the Lord. The Psalms cover morning, evening, midday, midnight, and every time in between.

In the Psalms, we meet worshipers without masks. They don't hide behind religious language. They don't beat around the bush. They present their adoration or supplication unto the Lord, trusting him to answer. We get to eavesdrop on their private prayers which we know to be pleasing to the Lord because he inspired and preserved them in the Scriptures. Thus, through the Psalms we learn something of approaching God in prayer in the fear of the Lord.

As we read through the Psalms, we can offer up prayers based on the passage we are reading. If we were to pray Psalm 141:3-4 it might be something like this: "Yes, Lord, please guard my mouth so I might only speak what is pleasing to you. And please keep me from giving my life over to evil influences. Amen." Or we might just pray it word for word.

This kind of praying can be very beneficial. First, it informs our prayers, by giving specific things to pray for. Next, it focuses our prayers because the Scripture is guiding our thoughts. Finally, it conforms us to the will of God. As we pray Scripture, we are praying God's mind after him. It teaches us to think his thoughts (as far as we are able). I encourage to begin meditating on and praying through the Psalms.

Praying Through the Psalms

"Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips! Do not let my heart incline to any evil, to busy myself with wicked deeds in company with men who work iniquity, and let me not eat of their delicacies" (Ps. 141:3-4).

The Psalms are an excellent training ground to learn how to pray. They cover the whole range of human emotion and experience. The reflect earnest trust in a Sovereign who is ever-present and willing to hear the prayers of his people. They reflect an honest and often raw expression of the soul onto the Lord. The Psalms cover morning, evening, midday, midnight, and every time in between.

In the Psalms we meet worshipers without masks. They don't hide behind religious language. They don't beat around the bush. They present their adoration or supplication unto the Lord, trusting him to answer. We get to eavesdrop on their private prayers which we know to be pleasing to the Lord because he inspired and preserved them in the Scriptures. Thus, through the Psalms we learn something of approaching God in prayer in the fear of the Lord.

As we read through the Psalms, we can offer up prayers based on the passage we are reading. If we were to pray Psalm 141:3-4 it might be something like this: "Yes, Lord, please guard my mouth so I might only speak what is pleasing to you. And please keep me from giving my life over to evil influences. Amen." Or we might just pray it word for word.

This kind of praying can be very beneficial. First, it informs our prayers, by giving specific things to pray for. Next, it focuses our prayers because the Scripture is guiding our thoughts. Finally, it conforms us to the will of God. As we pray Scripture, we are praying God's mind after him. It teaches us to think his thoughts (as far as we able). I encourage to begin meditating on and praying through the Psalms.