Devotionals

Devotional: My Greatest Goal Yet {Mark 1:35}

‘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.’ {Mark 1:35}

This verse was one of the driving forces behind my 2019 resolution to spend time in God’s Word everyday.

Oddly enough, this verse keeps popping up. It was in the first week of the She Works His Way Bible Reading Plan I’m following and it was included in our church sermon this past Sunday.

Probably God’s way of nudging me towards discipline and intentionality to see this goal through. Because it’s easy to get caught up in the noise and demands of our daily life; neglecting times of solitude, individual worship, and prayer.

But even Jesus, free from sin and evil, found it necessary to rise early to spend quiet time in prayer with God.

If I’m to follow in his footsteps, as 1 John 2:6 says I am, ‘Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.’ Then prayer and spending time with God and being in his Word needs to be of higher priority to me.

In fact, the study notes in my Bible actually stated, ‘perhaps you need to redesign your schedule to find time for earnest prayer….because it is vitally important to seek the Lord before your busy schedule takes over your thoughts.’

Yes! My days always seem to go so much better when I start them in The Word, followed by prayer and connection with God. Or maybe it’s my attitude that takes a slight shift — after time in The Word it seems my grace is greater and love is larger.

Therefore, I believe that the decision to be in God’s Word daily will positively effect every other decision I make.

But I also believe this will take a great deal of discipline and intentionality {typically in the form of setting my alarm clock 20 minute earlier}. I know that it takes disciple and intentionality to move my body everyday, so why would I believe that it takes any less discipline and intentionality to be in The Word everyday?

Yet, I know that discipline and intentionality in one area of life, often spill over into all sorts of other areas of life. Making this resolution, to be in The Word daily, what I believe to be my greatest New Year’s resolution yet.

Devotional Prayer: Discipline in Prayer

Dear God,

Open my eyes to your wonder.

Give me a thirst for your Word,

and discipline to spend time in solitude with you as Jesus did.

Looking for other faith-based posts? You can find my previous weekly Devotional posts by clicking here.

Pin this Devotional Prayer: A Prayer for Discipline in Faith