Recently I’ve dipped into more historical profiles from the rich tapestry of Christendom. Amidst some of my reading and listening have been four common threads in the otherwise varied lives of Athanasius, Martin Luther, William Carey and Amy Carmichael. Athanasius is the dude in the picture, clearly in a dress-down day in the office. The common denominators in these Godward lives were:
immersion in Scripture,
thriving prayer life,
pattern of obedience and
pre-occupation with Jesus Christ.

History has to get connected or simply put I get bored! In these four areas how are you doing? How about these questions in the light of the above, and the awesome cloud of witnesses that cheers you and I on.

Do I have a love for God’s Word?
Am I willing to make the study of it, and the application of it, my life’s pursuit?Will I cultivate intimacy with God through prayer?
Am I willing to part with all sins for His sake?Will I obey his voice, no matter what he asks?
Do I know the Lord Jesus well?How much of my Christian life is really centered on him?

Athanasius