Morning Devotions: How It Started
On January 1, 2017, I determined to read the entire Bible before the year’s end. I also wanted to encourage others to do the same. And that’s how “Morning Devotions” was born.
This week participants and I completed our third year and our third reading of the Bible. Thus far we have read through the ESV (2017), NASB (2018), and CSB (2019) translations of God’s Word. We will read the NKJV in 2020.
“Morning Devotions” is a live YouTube gathering of brothers and sisters in Christ, from around the world. We meet at 7:00 AM (CT), Monday through Saturday. Occasionally I will read later in the day due to ministry and/or family commitments.
The format each morning is simple enough. I activate the live stream a few minutes before the top of the hour. I spend a few minutes in fellowship with viewers in the chat room. Then, we settle in for a brief time of prayer and the reading of God’s Word. Depending on where we are in the Bible, I will read anywhere from three to ten chapters each day.
Testimonies
A number of people have been with me every morning, for the last three years. Daniel Teage from Maryland is one of them. I asked Daniel how “Morning Devotions has impacted his walk with Christ. He wrote:
“We live in a day and age when solid, biblical information in the forms of sermons and theological libraries are at our fingertips. Yet many Christians, myself included, can find it a struggle to daily spend time in God’s Word. Over the last three years, the Lord has used ‘Morning Devotions’ with my brother Tony Miano to equip, encourage, and empower Christians around the world to develop consistency in Bible intake.
“My son Jonah was born the same year ‘Morning Devotions’ began. He joins me most mornings and he loves to listen to Tony read the Bible aloud. It is my hope that the Lord will use ‘Morning Devotions’ and his parents’ shepherding to communicate the gospel to my son and one-day save him.
“I’m reminded of Romans 10:17, which reads: ‘Faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.’ It is my prayer that many others would take advantage of the opportunity ‘Morning Devotions’ provides for fellowship with other Christians, and the reading of and meditation upon God’s Word.
“I thank God for His grace in the life and ministry of my brother Tony Miano”
Roy (Iowa), a member of my church family, has also been with me since the beginning of “Morning Devotions.” Here’s what he had to say:
“As I have considered the past three years of being a part of Tony’s ‘Morning Devotions,’ I can’t help but to be thankful to God for Tony’s faithfulness in not just reading the Bible, but also leading us in prayer and facilitating some wonderful fellowship with brothers and sisters from around the world. I’m also thankful for his love for unbelievers and God-haters that have come into the chatroom. Some are just curious and ask serious questions. Others clearly hate the God who created them. More often than not, regardless of their motives for entering the chatroom, Tony preaches the gospel to them.
“I am looking forward to the coming year as we join together with our dear brother to read God’s Word.”
My dear friend Nora (Idaho), another participant in “Morning Devotions” since its inception, wrote:
“It’s a blessing to be in the Word each morning. ‘Morning Devotions’ is a wonderful way to encourage one another to love Christ more and to grow in Christ-likeness. Tony has been faithfully reading the Bible aloud for three years. My family has been blessed by it. I hope to see you in the chat room!”
Subscribe to My YouTube Channel and Join Us
Wednesday, January 1, 2020, will mark the beginning of Year 4 of ‘Morning Devotions.’ Subscribe to my YouTube channel and join me and my friends for a wonderful year-long journey through God’s Word.
Daniel Teage says
Amen, to God be all the Glory brother!