Encounter

Spending quality time with God

Some people call it “devotions,” some call it a “time alone with God.” It’s when you intentionally focus on encountering God through Bible reading and prayer. Because our faith is a relationship, it requires communication to grow. There’s no shortcut to closeness with God other than hearing Him speak to you regularly through Scripture, and speaking to Him in prayer.

Is your relationship with God growing closer through the spiritual habits of prayer and taking in Scripture?

Scripture

Encounter-Kneeling-338x400.jpgEvery journey has a destination but only the journeys with a road map or a guide end up where you were aiming for. We believe that the Bible is that road map and guide, and that spending at least 10 minutes a day reading and studying it will help you navigate through this curvy and messy life.

Further down this page you will find various reading plans to give you an action plan on what to read each day. You’ll also find a link to the YouVersion Bible app which has thousands of reading plans that you can download on your phone, tablet or computer.

Thinking about climbing a mountain might be daunting but even ascending a mountain is a series of small steps, so let this page be a tool for you to start this journey one day, one step, at a time! (Click to go there now!)

Prayer

No special talent is required — simply a sincere, willing heart turned toward the Lord. Start with a few minutes, and when you start compiling some prayer needs and requests, you’ll go longer.

Jesus showed by His example the importance and power of prayer. Throughout the Bible, we read about strong men and women of prayer, and we see the vital part prayer played in the early church. Prayer must be a priority in everything we do because prayer provides guidance for our decisions and power for service. Great moves of God and spiritual awakenings are preceded by individuals and groups who are committed to the spiritual habit of prayer.

If you want to receive a weekly email with requests to pray for the people, mission, and ministries of Southpoint, sign up for the prayer force below OR if you would like to request prayer you can also do that below:

"...for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations." Isaiah 56:7

You may want to keep a notebook in which to write questions and thoughts that come to you during this time. You can even memorize some key verses that are especially meaningful to you. Ask God to make real in your life what you’ve read in His word. Ask for His guidance for your day, and share with Him your temptations, difficulties, and challenges which you may meet. Praise and thank Him for His blessings, and pray for the needs of others.

If you’re new to Bible reading, be sure to start with the New Testament: books like the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John), Philippians, 1 John, James, and Acts. Make it your goal to read at least one chapter per day, then work your way up to more.