by David Brenneman
To wake up this morning and have the chorus of this song playing through my mind...
A thousand generations falling down in worship
To sing the song of ages to the Lamb
And all who've gone before us and all who will believe
Will sing the song of ages to the Lamb
Your name is the highest
Your name is the greatest
Your name stands above them all
All thrones and dominions
All powers and positions
Your name stands above them all
And the angels cry holy
All creation cries holy
You are lifted high, holy
Holy forever
If you've been forgiven and if you've been redeemed
Sing the song forever to the Lamb
If you walk in freedom and if you bear His name
Sing the song forever to the Lamb
We'll sing the song forever and amen
And the angels cry holy
All creation cries holy
You are lifted high, holy
Holy forever
Hear Your people sing holy
To the King of kings, holy
You will always be holy
Holy forever
Your name is the highest
Your name is the greatest
Your name stands above them all
All thrones and dominions
All powers and positions
Your name stands above them all
Jesus
Your name is the highest
Your name is the greatest
Your name stands above them all (oh, stands above)
All thrones and dominions
All powers and positions
Your name stands above them all
And the angels cry holy
All creation cries holy
You are lifted high, holy
Holy forever (we cry holy, holy, holy)
Hear Your people sing (we will sing) holy
To the King of kings (holy), holy (holy is the Lord)
You will always be holy
Holy forever
You will always be holy
Holy forever
-"Holy Forever" (c)2022 Chris Tomlin
When you awake each day does talking to God cross your mind?
When you start your day are you asking Jesus what He's got for you to be doing today?
Regardless of what circumstances you find yourself, if indeed you are saved in Christ Jesus, talking to your Savior and Lord Jesus Christ ought to become like breathing.
Prayer is nothing less than a heart to heart conversation that the enemy of God cannot hear or know anything about.
Praying isn't difficult if we watch little children do it with ease.
Adults overthink prayer and praying.
We often think it's an optional thing to do among other's that are on our calendar or list of things to do.
So let's start there. You wake up for the day, providing the Lord didn't call you home that is, what things that you do that are non-negotiable? Many, if not everyone, trudge into the bathroom as their first step of the day. Some wash their face and do other rituals.
Getting dressed is probably next. In all this...there's time to pray.
We head for the kitchen in most cases next. Still time to pray. In some households others are up, conversations happen. A prayer is a conversation with God so you already know how to have one.
If you're wanting God to do things in your life, prayer is where it begins. But realize as well, there's much more that He has in store for you than your prayers encompass.
Make praying in the morning a non-negotiable thing. Jesus, your Savior and Lord, went through the most horrific of things on His way to save you by dying on the cross and rising from the dead 3 days later, wants to hear from you.
Add reading a chapter in your Bible to your prayer time. Your Bible is absolutely not only for church time. You aren't going to grow in Christ very well if you have no idea what your Bible says. Devotionals can be good to assist your Bible study but should never replace your Bible study.
People often complain about not having the time to read their Bible. Try listening to it. The Bible app allows listening to the Word of God on both Android and Apple devices. Many of these same-said people are also devout followers of various sports or other forms of entertainment. Ask yourself this: Will I be examined by Jesus for my knowledge of those things after we leave this world or will it be on my understanding of His Word and that which I have done in my life for Him?
Paul wrote the Church in Ephesus to not give the devil an opportunity...yet we get easily convinced to take down the door meant to keep him out and some remove a few walls to make it easier for him to come in!
We don't utilize that profoundly powerful opportunity to get to know our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ better! Instead we cater to the various desires of our hearts which quite often is not what Jesus wants of us. We treat the Christian life as something of privilege in that we should only seek the blessings of God to create a peaceful wonderland we call our home away from home.
Jesus said plainly that those who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus are going to suffer. It's not going to be all sunshine and rainbows. We are far from perfect and the Spirit's job aside from protecting the Word of God is our sanctification. That process by which we become more like Christ Jesus.
Some can view a life thrown in disarray as falling apart when it's the life of a Believer...in God’s plan and purpose that life is coming together.
When you start your day your mind is susceptible to the influence of your enemy, the enemy of God.
Philippians 4:8-9 says "Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you."
Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight."
Colossians 3:2 "Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth."
Further we read:
"For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us." Romans 8:5-18.
I will leave you with this...
I got up early one morning
and rushed right into the day;
I had so much to accomplish
that I didn’t have time to pray.
Problems just tumbled about me,
and heavier came each task.
“Why doesn’t God help me?” I wondered.
He answered, “You didn’t ask.”
I wanted to see joy and beauty,
but the day toiled on, gray and bleak;
I wondered why God didn’t show me.
He said, “But you didn’t seek.”
I tried to come into God’s presence;
I used all my keys at the lock.
God gently and lovingly chided,
“My child, you didn’t knock.”
I woke up early this morning,
and paused before entering the day;
I had so much to accomplish
that I had to take time to pray.
- Anonymous
All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
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