The Word and Prayer

I've always had a tremendous amount of respect for Billy Graham. I can remember connecting with Christ after reading his book, "Peace With God."

When Jerry Jenkins was working with Billy Graham in the writing of Graham's autobiography Just As I Am, Jenkins asked Graham about his spiritual disciplines. He said, "...you're seen as almost the Protestant Pope. Surely there are secrets, hints you can offer laypeople on how to maintain their walk with God."

Jenkins writes, "Graham demurred, insisting that he is no authority. Jenkins asked Graham to explain, at least, how he maintains his own spiritual disciplines.

Graham answered, "There's no secret to that. God doesn't hide the key from us. The Bible says to pray without ceasing and to search the Scriptures. And I do that."

Graham went on to say that he has a habit of leaving his Bible open somewhere where he will notice it during the day. He said, "I pick it up at odd moments and read a verse or two or a chapter or two or for an hour or two. And this is not for study or sermon preparation. This is just for my own spiritual nourishment."

Bible reading and prayer: these are the habits that have sustained one of the greatest Christian leaders of history.

Sometimes we make the Christian experience and walk more complicated than it really is.

I would suggest that we will never outgrow or "out-succeed" the need for these basic disciplines. This is why Peter said, "As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby." (1 Peter 2:2)

Just a thought for a Tuesday afternoon.