Daring Devotion to Christ

     Beep, beep, beep...... slap.  Time to get up?  It's so early...oh right, quiet time. Try to get up. Flop Maybe I could try just reading my Bible right here.  Pry your eyes open until....they close again.  One hour later you wake up with a jolt, you fell asleep while attempting to be spiritual.
back in bed. 
      Has this ever happened to you before because it's happened to me um...more than once. It's not that I am trying to fall asleep while reading my Bible it just happens.  Now that's not an excuse.  God has often convicted my heart and along the way He has also given we some pointers on how to dive into His Word and prayer instead falling into it as I get an extra hour of sleep. 
      Setting aside time to seek the Lord through prayer and reading His Word is SO IMPORTANT.  His Word is Living Water, the bread of life, truth in a world of lies, the light to our path, a source of our sanctification and encouragement, useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness and so much more.  Jesus Christ in the Word of God in the flesh!  Not only that but prayer is the open door through which we can enter the throne of grace and communicate with the God of the universe.  Isn't that awesome??!!!!  We have the opportunity to bring even the littlest requests to God and He promises to hear and respond.  Time spent at the feet of Jesus is never wasted and will yield an eternal reward.  Don't put it off. 

Set A Time and Keep It

Corrie ten Boom says it so well:

Don't pray when you feel like it.  Have an appointment with

the Lord, and keep it. 

      We devote uninterrupted time to all kinds of things, whether it is school work or talking to friends.  But why don't we have that same kind of commitment in our approach to Christ and seeking Him?  Many of us have had those days when we lay in bed at night and suddenly realize we haven't read one verse or communed with the Father all day!  Instead of addressing this reality with a nonchalant attitude, let us seek to redeem the time.  One of the best ways to do this is to make time with the Lord the top priority of our lives and schedule everything else around that.  

      I would really encourage you to have time that is set apart in your day to devote to prayer and getting in the Word.  If you have a calender, schedule it in just like you would do if you had an important meeting or appointment to get to.   For me, the morning works best.   Recently, I have had to fight the challenge of faithfully keeping my time with God during the day guarded.  It seems like life starts and doesn't really stop until late at night.  Elisabeth Elliot also gives helpful insight:

"It is best to commune with  God before you commune with people.   
Your attitude toward them will arise out of your life in Him.  
Offering to God the first hour of the day is a token of consecration
 of all of our time." 

Guard it

      Whether you decide to get up at 6 am or or stay up an extra hour at night, I want to exhort you to guard that time.  It will be easy to compromise by sleeping in, texting a friend,  putting it off because you are in the middle of a game with family, have this really important school project you need to finish or a bazillion other things.  We live in a world where we are experts at being distracted and making excuses.  Just like you wouldn't miss an appointment with the president or step out in the middle to call your best buddy, don't treat your time with God lightly.  Here are so ways to help limit or remove distractions: 

• Remove all devices from the premise (includes phones, computers, ipods or anything that might beep or ring at you:)
• Have a notepad handly.  If something you need to remember comes to mind, write it down and lay it aside. 
• Have a water bottle handy.  If you like to pray out loud, you might get thirsty. 
• Shut your self in a closet.  I'm serious.  Find a tucked away, small, enclosed space where you can find peace and quite away from the hussle and bussle of everyday business.  
• Anything that is distracting you, remove it. 
• Remember what is most important. (prioritize) 

     While you might need to remove some things that would cause distraction, here are some things you might consider as tools, helping to make your time focused and effective.

• Your Bible.  The one with a front and back cover and lots of pages in between. Although many people have the Bible on their devices, you need to be familiar with your copy of God's Word.
•  A highlighter or pen or underlining or making a verse or jotting down thoughts as you read.
• A prayer journal.
• A list of prayer request or praises.  Note: It can be extremely helpful to write down what you want to pray about.  It helps keep your mind focused and on track.
• Peaceful music. For some people it is helpful to have music playing while praying or reading.  I have found this great podcast called Music to Pray By.  You can also access it on itunes.  

Comfort or Conformity?

     When you get on your knees to pray, you have just entered a battle.  Paul Washer says that the devil trembles when even the weakest Christian starts to pray.  This battle is a spiritual one and it is one that must be fought.  But it is also a battle that will cost you.  One of the greatest temptations you will face when you start to engage combat is compromising for comforts sake.  Don't take the path that is easier.  Are you willing to live for comfort at the cost of conformity to Christ or are you among the few that says, no matter what it costs me whether it be time, resources, sleep, fun or my very sweat and blood, I am willing to give it all to Him.  Your success at fighting the battles in the world through evangelism, counseling, serving or standing strong against temptation will be dependent on how much you sought the Lord.  It's hard to serve a Captain you don't communicate with and you don't seek instruction from.  It's going to be hard.  But stand strong. 

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might."

Ephesian 6:10

     Dear sister, the biggest key to having successful time in God's Word is your heart.  Do you know Him and how much He is worthy of your time, thoughts and attention?  Do you desire Him and seek after Him as the pearl or great price?  Or is God's Word stale and times of prayer boring?  I want to encourage you, "draw near to God and He will draw near to you." (James 4:8)  Seeking the Lord is hard work and there are time when we don't feel like doing it or like our prayers are doing anything.  Don't base your life and devotion to Christ on feeling but rather on faith.  And how do you walk by faith in this area of your life?  You pursue Him faithfully.  

 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.

Jeremiah 29:13