Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray.
Mark 1:35 NLT
http://bible.com/116/mrk.1.35.NLT
This world has many distractions. Our lives are fast paced and many things throughout the day stack up and require our attention. If we don’t commit to a specific time with God, we risk never making time for Him. If we don’t put Him first, we risk heading into battle without our armor and without His strength. Because the days that we need Him most are the days filled with chaos and distraction that leave little time for breaking away for quiet time with the Lord.
In addition to committing time at the beginning of our day, it is important to find a place where we can pray and listen for that still, quiet voice of the Lord without being distracted. The sounds of the world around us can pull us away from the opportunity that we have to come into the presence of the Lord and actually commune and talk with Him. Sometimes I will put on a set of earphones or even the hearing protection that I wear at the shooting range to block out the distractions of the world. Sometimes the roar of the world around me seems to fight against me coming to the Lord, so I fight back with a dedicated drive and purpose to get to that quiet place.
Even when we find a place free from the noise and distraction of the world, our minds can be far from quiet with the thoughts and worries of the day. By getting up early in the morning before most of the world is up and active and moving, before the day has pulled on its burdens from today’s circumstances and situations – I can come to the Lord with a mind that is quiet and ready to listen.
I think many of us see prayer as us talking TO God, not us talking WITH God. And I believe that this is because many of us aren’t seeking an active relationship with God, we aren’t expecting an answer, we aren’t believing that He wants to talk and dine with us. We aren’t expecting God to change us through our prayers by His touch, by His pouring out the anointing of His Holy Spirit upon us and empowering us to go out and change the world around us – because we don’t really believe that Christ lives in us and is just waiting for us to let Him loose upon the world in our lives.
2 Timothy 1:7
For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
It’s time to repent, to dedicate focused time in prayer, and to receive the Holy Spirit so our lives are lived boldly, not timidly, demonstrating Christ’s power, love, and self-discipline in our lives.
Need Him.
Seek Him.
Put Him first in your day,
Raising your praises and prayers to Him,
as you rise from sleep,
Both physical sleep,
and spiritual slumber,
Dying daily and being raised to life anew.
Put Him first in your heart,
Make Him your priority,
Put Him ahead of life’s distractions.
Put Him first in your soul,
Coming to Him humbly,
As a servant of His will.
Put Him in control of your emotions,
Guarding your heart against attacks,
Guarding your words and your actions,
Since they flow from your heart.
Put Him in control of your mind,
Setting your mind on the higher things,
Like love, joy, peace, patience,
Kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
And self control.
Surrender your life, and see Him alive in your life today, friends. Don’t be satisfied sitting on the sidelines.
You are not meant for the sidelines, Child of God.
You are a Royal Priesthood.
You are a Child of God.
He lives in you.
You might be nothing without Him, but you have Him.
Do not fear the world. Fear not showing Him to the World so that you will walk boldly in the Spirit of the Lord. Let Him reign in your life. Let Him breathe in your life today. Let His glory shine in your life.
It starts each day with a prayer.
It starts with a step.
Pray.
Step.
Get to living and walking in Life!
You are raised to life, child of God!
Harold J. Ballinger 