Survival Verses
by Scott Hamilton on Monday, 25th March 2013
The Bible is a book that is more about survival than we often think. In fact the Christian life with its Biblical pictures of battle and struggle is about persevering in pursuit of a promise. When we come to read our Bibles as part of our regular spiritual diet we often fail to realise the situation we find ourselves in. The result is that we go into it looking for some new and profound theological insight rather than looking for something from God to help us get through the day. We would find great benefit in realising that strength is found not in a routine that gives the impression of spiritual health but a relationship that brings the full impact of spiritual help: we need a survival verse.
What do you need?
A reading plan. (There are some suggestions below, I recommend a plan that gives you a few passages in a variety of places to read).
A notebook, journal or app that allows you to record your verse for that day and a place to return to remind you of it later in the day.
A time to return to that verse later in the day to remind yourself of it.
Here are mine from last week:
Monday
Isaiah 59: 1 Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear;
Tuesday
Psalm 31: 21 Blessed be the Lord, for he has wondrously shown his steadfast love to me when I was in a besieged city.
Wednesday
Isaiah 57:15 “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.
Thursday
Proverbs 11: 7 When the wicked dies, his hope will perish, the righteous is delivered from trouble, and the wicked walks into it instead.
Friday
Psalm 34: 18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
Discipleship Journal Bible Reading Plan
McCheyne Reading Plan (this is the plan I have found to be most regularly helpful)
There are two daily devotional books written by D. A Carson to accompany this plan. They can be downloaded here & here
Community Bible Reading (this is the plan I am presently using. CBR is available as an ipad app which I have found really useful particularly when associated with a journal app for noting verses down).