A Prayer for St. Patrick’s Day 2025
March 17, 2025
Creator God,
We give thanks for life today.
We thank you for Patrick
and for all who have boldly
lived lives of faith in Christ,
even in the face of extreme hardship.
Help us this day not to be pinched once again
by the sting of sin.
Help us to remember Your love is greater than luck.
Father, today, would you drive out the sin in our life by Your Spirit,
so we may walk even closer in the love of Christ today.
May the same love which compelled Patrick to share the gospel in Ireland
stir our hearts to love our neighbors more fully today.
Amen.
My 2025 Bible Reading Plan
January 4, 2025
I’m so excited to see so many pastors and Christians sharing their 2025 Bible reading plans! It’s inspiring to see how others approach spending time in God’s Word. Here’s what I’m planning to do this year.
Historically, I’ve struggled to stick with reading the entire Bible in a year. Falling behind often left me discouraged and tempted to give up. But I’ve been reminded of something I attribute to Brian Russell: “The goal is to fall in love with reading the Scriptures, not just completing a reading plan.”
With that in mind, I’ve been working my way through the Life Application Study Bible in the New Living Translation, book by book. It’s been recommended as a fantastic beginner’s study Bible, and I wanted to experience it for myself. Instead of following a rigid schedule, I choose books as I go, highlighting them in the table of contents when I finish.
Occasionally, I’ll pause wherever I’m at and read a chapter from Proverbs that corresponds to the day of the month—for example, Proverbs 5 on January 5th. When I hit a rut, I’ll turn to listening to Scripture through YouVersion, which often helps reignite my focus.
It’s not the most creative or structured plan—no fancy PDF guides or trackers—but this rhythm works for me. It’s a balance of consistency and flexibility that keeps me engaged.
I typically pair this reading practice with centering prayer, intercessory prayer, and journaling. These practices deepen my time with God and help me stay rooted in His presence.
Would you like to hear more about those other practices? Or perhaps a review of the Life Application Study Bible in the NLT?
I’d also love to hear about your Bible or devotional plan for 2025. How are you diving into Scripture this year?
Practical Questions for Pastors When Feeling Aimless
January 2, 2025
Preaching is a unique profession in many ways, especially when it comes to managing your schedule. It’s a curious blend of flexibility and rigidity. During the week, there’s often plenty of room to adjust and adapt. However, Sunday worship is non-negotiable—it’s a fixed anchor point in your week. Funerals, too, demand an immediate and unwavering commitment, making them challenging to reschedule.
Between those immovable commitments, there can sometimes be a sense of aimlessness. What do you do when your day doesn’t have a clear “what’s next”? Over the years, I’ve found these questions helpful in navigating those moments.
- Who needs a call from me today?
- Who can I spend time praying for?
- Who can I quickly go and visit?
- Who do I need to carve out time to go and visit?
- What do I need to spend time studying?
- What meetings are coming up in the next three weeks? How can I be prepared for them?
- Do I have a good grasp of the church calendar and what is upcoming this quarter? In the next 12 months?
- Who can I write a thank you note to today?
- Where do I feel stuck?
I hope you find this helpful.
What are some other questions you have for when you get stuck?
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About David Wesley Donnan
I write online about Methodism, devotional insights, and personal reflections. My primary goal is to organize my thoughts and explore meaningful topics. Along the way, I hope my writing inspires and encourages others on their journey.
David Donnan 