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' I particularly hope that by looking at familiar words through the eyes of the world’s poorest people you will find them inspiring and provocative in a completely new way. '

The Bible readings that Peter Graystone contributes daily to surefish have been published as a book by Canterbury Press and Christian Aid. So now, as well as reading them at your computer, you can buy the book and take it anywhere.

This is the story of how I came to write a Bible reflection and prayer for every day of the year. And it is 90 per cent true!

Some time ago I went to preach on behalf of Christian Aid at a church north of London. I arrived early and went for a splendidly old-fashioned afternoon tea with one of the congregation. The first thing that would strike anyone going into his living room is a large telescope in the bay window. The second is several crooked piles of astronomy books in the corners.

As I took my cup of tea he opened the conversation, ‘So tell me! Why on earth does a charity need to invest money in Christian education? The way I see it, you can sum the whole thing up as: “Love your neighbour as you love yourself”.’

So I replied, ‘Good point! And I’ve also been wondering why on earth anyone needs to study astronomy. The way I see it, you can sum the whole thing up as: “Twinkle twinkle little star”!’

Unfortunately, that’s the 10 per cent of the story that isn’t true. It’s what I realised that I should have said when I was driving back home three hours later. Typical!

The more mundane truth is that we spent half an hour talking about how the values and visions that motivate Christian Aid have roots deep in the teaching of the Bible. It became clear that my host was eager not just to understand how to address the scandal of poverty through campaigning and development, but also to study the Bible in a way that makes connections between the Christian faith and what is happening in the developing world.

I honestly can’t remember whether it was him or me who suggested that the best way to approach it would be to read a part of the Bible every day – but whoever it was has done surefish and Canterbury Press a favour!

If you have ever explored the surefish daily readings online, you will recognise the format of the book. Each reflection contains half a dozen verses from the Bible, some thoughts about what they might mean for the 21st century, an action to take in response to the passage, and a prayer. And they have been written so that any day (or any year) could be your starting point.

You won’t, I’m afraid, manage to get through the entire Bible in twelve months. The extracts have been selected because they have a particular interest for those whose heart is on the side of the world’s poorest people, and often the thoughts and prayers come directly from those communities. And the book contains stories that come from the ‘partner organisations’ in the developing world that are supported and funded by the money that is given to Christian Aid.

I hope that reading the Bible and responding to its challenge is a habit that you can get into. And I particularly hope that by looking at familiar words through the eyes of the world’s poorest people you will find them inspiring and provocative in a completely new way. If that happens then, by the end of the year, we will all be in a position to ‘know that the Lord maintains the cause of the needy, and executes justice for the poor’ (Psalm 140:12).

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