The Power of 15 Minutes

Personal spiritual development is not a mystery.  It simply takes showing up before God with the proper tools.  The necessary tools include the Bible and yourself.  Sometimes when life is pounding on us pretty hard, showing up with the Bible and part of yourself is enough.  I am convinced that God wants an attempt at spritual growth.  I used to have a spiritual formation teacher that said, in your quiet time with God if you fall asleep you will get a B.  I will take a B any day!  I think having a daily routine or pattern helps in our spiritual development.

There are two things I have used daily to help aid my spiritual growth. One is a reading plan.  I like to use a tablet to read the Bible in the morning so I use the YouVersion app.  This app has several Bible translations and also a section where you can choose a reading plan.  I like the Book of Common Prayer and try to read it each morning.  I have also found prayer written by others to be a great training tool as I am in the school of prayer.  I ran across a prayer written and prayed daily by John Stott.  Stott (1921-2011) was a minister in England and was very influential through his preaching and writing.  He was called to celibacy and faithfully practiced this his entire life (which speaks to his faithfulness in this crazy culture).  Each day John Stott prayed what he entitled Daily Trinitarian Prayer.  I encourage you to get a Bible reading plan and  pray this and let me know how your spiritual life is doing after a month of following this discipline.  This process only takes about 15 minutes, but it will help you grow spiritually.

 John Stott’s Daily Trinitarian Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I pray that I may live this day in your presence and please you more and more.

Lord Jesus, I pray that this day I may take up my cross and follow you.

Holy Spirit, I pray that this day you will fill me with yourself and cause your fruit to ripen in my life:

Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control

Holy, blessed and glorious trinity, three persons in one God, have mercy upon me.

Almighty God, Creator and sustainer of the universe, I worship you.

Lord Jesus Christ, Savior and Lord of the World, I worship you.

Holy Spirit, Sanctifier of the people of God, I worship you.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,

As it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be forever, Amen.