Melissa Rightmire 1/1/25 Melissa Rightmire 1/1/25

Reading New Testament and Psalms in Six Months in 2025

Here we are in 2025 and we are steadfast on abiding in Jesus this year! Here at Crossroads we are learning to abide better by engaging in His Word and letting it shape us as a community of people walking with Him. We want to embody John 15.1-9.

We are beginning by reading the New Testament during the first six months of the year. For those so inclined, there is an option to add the Psalms to your reading plan. This might sound like a big deal, but reading the New Testament in six months will only take about 8-10 minutes of your day! If you add the Psalms just double that amount.

The point isn’t really how much we read in six months, it’s more important that we are learning to ABIDE with Jesus. He in us and us in Him just as He is in the Father and Father is in Him. That is how we get to the point of hearing Him well and seeing Him around us so that we can follow his leading. We read the Bible because that is a primary way the Holy Spirit speaks to us. We learn who Jesus is. We begin to understand His ways, the ways of the Father, and learn the voice of the Holy Spirit. Without engaging in His Word, we are simply manufacturing our own ideas about what God is doing and saying. And that’s only abiding in ourselves . . . not Jesus.

I pray you are joining us this year as we learn to abide! Follow along each day. Share what’s happening! Take on the challenges that are posted and let us know how it’s going in the comments under each week’s reading plan. Text the word READ to 833-210-7705 and let me know how you are engaging or if you want to be a part of a small group or Zoom call. We want to help you connect with the Body of believers as you learn to abide.

I am confident God will bless you and our gatherings with His Presence, direction, and all manner of fruit of the Spirit in great abundance as we abide in Him.

Melissa Rightmire 1/1/25 Melissa Rightmire 1/1/25

Let’s Begin Reading!

It all begins with an idea.

The most important thing anyone can do before reading the Bible is to pray for the Holy Spirit to help you understand, listen, and act on what He is saying to you. If you are not sure how to do that, here is a simple prayer to get you started:

Lord God, Thank you for the words that I am about to read. Holy Spirit, I trust that you are indeed my teacher and my counselor, so would you teach and counsel me as I read today? My mind and heart are open to understanding and I am ready to learn to abide. I pray in the name of Jesus, amen.

I have nothing but confidence that God will answer this prayer because there is nothing more that He wants than to abide in you and you in Him! He wants to talk to someone who is listening! Get ready to hear as you begin the first day of reading.

Melissa Rightmire 12/31/24 Melissa Rightmire 12/31/24

Week Two

Thanks for following along and making it to week 2! It is my prayer that as you read you are open to hearing what the Holy Spirit is saying. Imagine with me that when the Christian church first began after Jesus’ resurrection and ascension, all the new believers had was the Apostles teachings and the Holy Spirit. The Apostles would gather people together in a particular location, share the gospel, teach them a little bit about what it means to follow Jesus and then they would move on to do it again. The groups of new believers had no choice but to rely on the counsel of the Holy Spirit to continue to grow in their faith. They would get an occasional letter from an Apostle, but they did not have the privilege we have today of being able to open a book and read the scriptures at will.

Is it possible for me and you to rely this heavily on the Holy Spirit to teach us? He hasn’t changed. His whole purpose is to counsel and teach. Once again, I remind you to pray every time before you read that the Holy Spirit will be your teacher. He will teach if you will open your heart and eyes to what He wants to show you.

Thanks for such strong participation in week 1! I love that so many of you are commenting on what you are hearing from the Lord and what is interesting or challenging. Let’s keep doing that!

I am praying for all of us as we read this week.