Time with God. Faithfulness in the morning. Prayer. Feeling guilty yet?
If so, you're like many believers - you'd like to have consistent devotions (prayer and Bible reading), but the good intentions never translate into reality. You know you should discipline yourself in these areas, tending to your spiritual health even more than you should to your physical health, but for some reason, you just don't make the time.
Samuel Chadwick said: "The one concern of the devil is to keep Christians from praying. He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work, prayerless religion. He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but trembles when we pray."
What Should I Do?
Set aside ten minutes each morning to be quiet, with no other distractions or responsibilities (no multi-tasking).
First, give your whole attention to God. Quiet your mind (which may take some discipline, as most of us are used to being "busy, busy, busy!"
Next, talk to Him about how you feel, what you are thankful for, what you want to do with your life, and any concerns or needs you have.
Then, take your Bible in hand and read a few verses. Don't hurry through them. Pray as you read, think about what the stories and statements mean in your life. What do you learn about God? How can you better obey Him? (Begin reading in Psalms and/or Ephesians).
Finally, conclude your devotions by talking to God about the day ahead of you. Pray for guidance and courage, wisdom, resolve, and opportunities to obey the truths you've learned.
Challenge: Having consistent devotions--time with God--doesn't have to be complicated. It's just a time you set aside because you love Him, enjoy Him, and want to focus on His Word. (You could even shut your monitor off right now, and take ten minutes to begin!)
Comments