Passage of the Day:
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. 36 Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37 and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!” 38 Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” 39 So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons, Mark 1:35-39.
Reflection:
If I could start every day with a simple prayer, it would be, “Lord where do you want me to go today, who do you want me to reach out to and what should I say?” Yet, when I have to leave by house by 5:40 am just to make it to work on time, making a reservation with God requires effort. Depending upon your daily schedule, at some point, you have to block time off in your day if you want to know the answers to the three questions above. Jesus got up early in the morning before sunrise, took a walk to find a quiet place and met with God as all of His disciples were sleeping. As Jesus relays a message to Peter, making an early reservation with God can reveal God’s plan and purpose for you on a specific day.
Prayerful Action:
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded, James 4:7-8.
Retracing Your Steps:
I’ve never been a morning person. Perhaps, I became a night owl in high school, staying up late playing video game and watching television. Since nighttime is when I’m usually more alert, I spend 30 minutes with God after dinner. This time begins with reading the Bible followed by writing down my prayers in a journal. I try to meet with God 6 days a week and on Sunday after church I set this day aside for writing my daily blog posts. Although I may miss a day or two when on vacation, I diligently reserve time for God when I return home.
Song of the Day:
While I used to beat myself up when I failed to spend time with God, all you can do is take one day at a time. Like a long-distance runner, pace yourself and as you develop a spiritual hunger for more, read or prayer a little longer. The key is consistency in making daily reservations with God.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 