>In his first media interview in several years, Billy Graham reflected on his long life and career. He said, “I know my time is limited on this earth.” At age 92, anyone might draw that conclusion. Yet I often feel the same way. I don’t know how many productive years I’ll have, and I want to make the most of them.

So what advice would Billy Graham offer? He told Greta Van Susteren that if life could be lived again, “I would study more. I would pray more, travel less, take less speaking engagements.”

It was through travel and speaking that Graham had his greatest impact, so we would think. Yet at the end of his life he seems more interested in spending time with God than even telling others about him.

As I think about the New Year and all the productive things I hope to do, I am convicted by my need to spend more time with the God I am so busy telling others about. I realize that it is more important that I be godly than that I be effective.

My prayer for the New Year is that I will spend more time in the Word and in prayer.

Many Christians struggle to establish the discipline of daily Bible reading. It’s not because they’re shallow or disinterested in spiritual growth. They simply can’t get a handle on incorporating this spiritual practice into their daily routines.

The trouble nearly always stems from problems in one of three area: time, boredom, or comprehension.

Jen’s Story: Boredom
One reason many people fail to establish a consistent habit of Bible reading is boredom. Jen’s story is a good example.* As a high school math teacher, Jen chose to begin her new habit during summer break, hoping to build momentum that would carry her into the school year.

When I started reading the Gospel of Matthew, it was like I was walking with Jesus every day. God spoke to me through every single verse! I couldn’t wait to have my time alone with God. But as the summer wore on, it just got a little boring. By the time I got to Luke, I was having to force myself to keep reading. I didn’t quit, really. It just sort of tapered off somewhere around Romans.

Jen’s experience is typical for those establishing any personal discipline. When beginning a diet, exercise program, or new business we usually encounter the same phenomenon. What seems exciting at first soon becomes routine, even tedious. So the problem wasn’t with the Bible or even with Jen personally. It is a predictable pattern in life: what begins with passion leads to boredom.

Pushing through Dry Times
Those who are successful at any pursuit learn how to push through this period dryness and reap the reward that consistent behavior always brings. Small but consistent actions reap tremendous rewards over time. Here’s how to push through that initial dry time (and subsequent ones) to keep up the habit of daily reading.

• Keep reading, even when feel that you’re “not getting anything out of it.”
• Quiet your mind each day so that you are fully there when you are reading.
• Don’t allow seemingly urgent matters to distract you—a significant temptation during dry times.
• Follow a Bible reading plan so that you always know what to read next.
• Force yourself to stop and think of one discovery that you made from the reading. Write it down.
• Pray, asking God to open your mind to his Word.
• Be patient.

Jen decided to stick with daily Bible reading, even when it felt as if she were just going through the motions. Also, she added the step of spending a few moments in silence to clear her mind of distractions. She’s been reading the Bible nearly every day now for about five years.

*Jen is a composite character based on a number of Bible readers I have known.

>This Advent season I’ve been reflecting on the disconnect between our experience as Christians living in the West, particularly in North America, and our Christian brothers and sisters in other parts of the world.

Christians face harassment—or outright persecution—in two thirds of all countries. The situation is particularly serious in Iraq, where Christians are being harassed, attacked, and killed. Two months ago, extremists detonated a bomb at a church, killing 70. One report states that three major cities in Iraq have suspended Christmas celebrations for fear of attack, and about half of the country’s 1.4 million Christians have fled.

Meanwhile, here in the United States we’re engaged in a spitting match with secular culture about the true meaning of Christmas. Numerous editorials are published bemoaning the fact that most of our Christmas traditions have nothing to do with the birth of Christ. One pastor began a Web site where readers can report merchants who say “Happy Holidays” rather than “Merry Christmas,” placing them on a “naughty list.”

Given that millions of Christians are in danger of losing their lives for celebrating the birth of Christ, it seems silly and a bit egotistical to insist that everybody—even nonbelievers—celebrate the day as we do. That we can celebrate at all should be gift enough.

I suggest we use the remainder of this Advent season to reflect upon the plight of our fellow believers who have been found worthy of suffering for Christ. Each time I hear the words Happy Holidays, I will breathe a prayer for my persecuted brothers and sisters—

• That they may be kept safe from harm.
• That they may have the courage to bear witness.
• That their suffering may bring glory to the name of Jesus Christ.