Comfort From the Gardner

"Peace I leave with you
my peace I give to you.
I do not give to you as the world gives.
Do not let your hearts be troubled
and do not be afraid."

John 14:27 NIV

This beautiful May morning finds me enjoying my screened in porch and it really is true, “Nothing could be finer than to be in Carolina in the morning!” The early morning air smells so fresh that it reminds me of camping trips from days gone by. It is true, April showers do bring May flowers. The birds seem to be especially happy this fine day! They seem to know that winter is over and spring is here. The birds are so trusting because they know full well the extent of God’s provision.

In the background I can hear a wise old owl hooting in a steady rhythm. “oho, who, who, whoooo” – “oho, who, who, whoooo.” It seems that this owl might actually be saying, “oho, who, who, whoooo, made all of this?” My reply is, “God.” Then the owl hoots, “oho, who, who, whoooo, controls all of this?” Again my reply is, “God.” Now the not so wise owl asks, “oho, who, who, whoooo is to be trusted?” Once again, my replay is, “God, the creator of heaven and earth.”

I now find my mind is ascending to the Father who says, “Come to the garden.” My heart is eager; and my steps are quick as I run toward the garden. As I enter the arbor gate my heart skips a beat as I see the beautiful deep purple clematis that is climbing up the trellis. With every year that passes it gets more and more beautiful than the year before. In the distance I see my Savior walking towards me. At last we meet and share a warm embrace. We head for the gazebo and Jesus asks me to sit with him and share what is on my heart.

As I begin to share my thoughts he listens. He hears every single word. I explain that this world is a bit uncertain. The future is unclear. I know that he created everything, and that he is in control of everything, and that he can be trusted…but… Jesus I am still having trouble understanding all that goes on around me. I share that my knees are shaky and my heart beats fast when things in this world seem to be flying out of control. There is a long period of silence and then Jesus speaks.

My sweet daughter, you are in need of reassurance, comfort and peace. I want you to close your eyes and wait for the Holy Spirit and while you wait just listen to me. Jesus then reminds me that his ways are indeed higher than my ways, and that his thoughts soar way above the clouds while my thoughts cling to the earth beneath my feet causing me to cast my focus downward. He speaks again and says, “Paula, you lack understanding because what see through the windows of your eyes is cloudy.”

This was a wonderful time in the garden because the Master Gardner reminded me of so many important things. He told me that I am not to despair when life is hard. He simply said for me to do my best and leave the rest to him. There were also some other very important reminders. Paula, do not give in to hopeless thoughts. Remember I am the God of hope. I will sustain you. I will be your help in trouble. The second reminder was trust Me. Give up your worry. He said that worry changes nothing except my own countenance. Worry pulls you down and it steals your joy. Worry shuts out my peace, so please Paula, don’t worry. I am on the job. I know your name; I will provide for all that you will ever need.

Amazingly, my shoulders began to relax, the deep lines of concern left my forehead, my headache went away, my knees stopped knocking and my stomach stopped churning. In their place I felt this amazing peace wash over me. It was a peace that I could not explain; there was now a wonderful comfort that calmed my soul. The Holy Spirit had come and poured out on me his peace and his comfort.

It was now time to leave the garden and go back to all that had previously concerned me. But now, deep in my heart I knew that my needs would be met. I knew that I had hope, and that Jesus was going to go before me to guide me, above me to protect me, behind me to encourage me, and inside of me to give me peace. I knew that Jesus would sustain me in all circumstances and that he would always be more than enough. Jesus knew that I was in need of comfort this day and he met my need.

Questions:

What are you concerned and worried about?

Have you given that worry and concern to Jesus?

Are you lacking hope or trust?

When was the last time that you felt God’s amazing comfort in your life?

Do you think that you could benefit from going to the garden to receive comfort from the Holy Spirit?

Prayer:

Dear Lord,

Thank you that I can be completely honest with you. Thank you that you hear me and that you listen to me. I know that you don’t miss a single word I say. Today I am feeling in need of _______________. Please send your Holy Spirit to provide the peace and comfort that I need this day. I need your help so that I can remain hopeful as I put my complete trust in you.

In Your Name I Pray. Amen

My Proverbs 31 Woman

“A wife of noble character who can find?

She is worth far more than rubies.

Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.

She brings him good, not harm all the days of her life.

When it snows, she has no fear for her household;

for all of them are clothed with scarlet.

She makes coverings for her bed;

she is clothed in fine linen and purple.

She is clothed in strength and dignity;

and can laugh at the days to come.

She watches over the affairs of her household,

and does not eat the bread of idleness.

She speaks with wisdom,

and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

Her children arise and call her blessed;

her husband also, and he praises her:

many women do noble things,

but you surpass them all.

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;

but a woman who fears the Lord, is to be praised.”

Proverbs 31:10-30 NIV

Today is Mother’s Day and although I am always happily looking forward to the attention that I will receive, this day has my mind racing back to my own mother, who has been deceased for many years.

Mom was nineteen years old when she married my Dad. From that time on until her death she gave her full attention to being a wife and mother. She raised her six children and loved her grandchildren. Even though Dad and Mom did not have a lot of financial resources and found themselves struggling during the depression, Mom still managed to keep her very small and simple home spotless and tidy. Mom washed and scrubbed clothes on a washboard; she fed each piece of clothing through a wringer, and then hung the clothes outside on a clothes line to dry. I venture to say that she may have had the whitest laundry in the entire county!

Mom was a seamstress. She made tablecloths, pillows and curtains for her home and she made all her own clothes and her children’s clothes as well. Mom was very resourceful as she used the printed fabric garden seed bags to sew the boy’s shirts and the girl’s dresses. The white cloth sacks that packaged the flour were turned into dish towels and curtains. Nothing was ever wasted! Socks were darned and buttons were replaced. The stitches of her handwork were very small and uniform and when necessary they were next to invisible.

Mom also baked delicious cakes, cookies and bread. I loved to watch her beat a cake batter by hand. Her steady hand whipped the batter in a bowl that was slanted at a dangerous angle resting on her lap. As I watched her beat the cake batter I was almost certain that the batter would end up spilling in her lap as she steadily beat and counted her strokes. Mom was also a wonderful cook and made a fantastic mouth watering pot roast. On Sundays the family would gather to share a wonderful meal. Other specialties were her fried fish and southern fried chicken. In addition her pies and cobblers were second to none! Cooking was something that she excelled in. Despite her meager monetary assets Mom knew how to make a holiday special with very little resources. There was always wonderful food and always a simple but pretty dinner table.

Mom’s teachings were based on biblical principles. Her words were loving and kind. But most importantly, Mom held her entire family in her prayers on a daily basis. She was indeed a Proverbs 31 woman. Mother went home to be with the Lord at the early age of sixty-eight after a long battle with cancer. I will always remember Mom as a soft-spoken lady who never said a bad word about anyone! Mom’s faith was steady and sure. After Mom passed away, I found a small card in her wallet with a picture of Jesus. Under the picture was this motto:

“Only one life ‘twill soon be past. Only what’s done for Christ will last.”

- C. T. Studd

My mom lived a very simple life. She only had an eighth grade education, yet she always felt that she had been given the highest calling from God that any woman could be blessed to receive. That calling was to love God, love her family and teach them about Jesus and she did that very well. Her life on this earth is past but her faithfulness to Jesus Christ lives on in my memory. Thank you mom for teaching me how to accept and love Jesus, because now I know that knowing Jesus is truly the only thing that will last!

Today as I am remembering my own mother I am impressed that it is important that I too take this motto that she loved into my own heart. I am satisfied knowing that this calling and service can be lived out under the simplest of conditions and without fanfare or acclaim. Wherever my path may lead me it is my desire to finish this life well and when I leave this world I want to be remembered not as a super Proverbs 31 woman who could do anything and everything, but rather a Proverbs 31 woman who loved God, her family and others. Who lived knowing that only one life would soon be past, only what was done for Christ would last.” Thank you mom for being a great example!

Questions:

Are you conscious of the fact that “Only one life will soon be past, and only what’s done for Christ will last?”

Do you think that raising your family is a God given privilege and calling?

If you are single, who are the people that you are in contact with the most?

Are you living your life before others in such a way that when you are no longer living your example will leave a mark of eternal significance on their life because of your influence?

Do you realize that godly faith, kindness, humility, mercy, compassion, and love can be your greatest assets of influence?

Prayer:

Dear God,

Thank you for all of the people in my life who have been there for me. I am especially thankful for those who have influenced and encouraged me to pursue Jesus Christ. As a mother I am blessed to have the awesome responsibility of training up my children in the way that they should go. Lord, today I pray a special blessing on all the women whose arms are empty and desire to have a child. I pray also that all men and women, married or single, will remember that they too have a blessed calling to be people of eternal influence to all that are within their circle of influence. God help me to remember that only one life will soon be past, and only what’s done for Christ will last.

In Your Son’s Name I Pray. Amen.

Bloom Where You're Planted!

“And whatever you do,

whether in word or deed,

do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus,

giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Colossians 3:17 NIV

Today I had an opportunity to enter my garden at mid day instead of early morning. My morning had gotten off to a rough start. As the day progressed I began to think about a lot of changes in my life that I did not like. Because of my unrest I decided to go to the garden even if it was in the middle of the day. It really wasn’t because I didn’t have anything else to do; it was because my spirit was in need.

I began to remember all the times that major change had taken place in my life. The fact is I have rarely welcomed major change. Much to my dismay my apple cart has been turned over more than once in my life!

I remember moving to Maryland. I had never moved before and I was leaving precious family and life long friends behind. I was also leaving my daughter in Illinois to attend her first year of college.

Not long after arriving in Maryland I met Linda, who not only had moved one time but many times. One day over lunch she shared with me something that she had learned in her heart’s garden. She said, “Look for those people that God has sent to you to help you get through this life change, and also look for the people that God is sending to you so that you can help and encourage them.” Then she added, “I do that everywhere I go.” Well now that is what I call blooming where you are planted!

When we face major change in our life there are choices to be made. Today I am remembering a major lesson that God taught me one day while I was in the garden looking for answers. On this particular day as I was nonchalantly walking the garden paths. I was enjoying the beautiful red geraniums when I stopped dead in my tracks and stared at the delicate pink Impatiens. The Master Gardener strolled up beside me and said, “Paula, there is a message here.” You are fretting about the change in your life without even giving me a chance to work all things together for your good. Your impatience and discontent is robbing you of the peace and joy that is to be found while you are waiting for your answers. So I got up my courage and asked the Master Gardener, “How long must I wait?” His replay was, “You need to wait as long as it takes.” I got the real impression that God wanted me to stop fretting and questioning. Again, I remembered what my friend Linda had said and so I began trying to discover ways that I could bloom where God had planted me. I now had a choice, I could wait in the garden impatiently with the Impatiens or I could wait in peace with the Peace Lilies. Either way it seemed pretty clear to me that I would be waiting.

I am the type of person that needs examples. I began to question, what does it look like to bloom where you are planted?

I thought about Gladys, who was mentally retarded. She sold greeting cards to earn a little extra money. In addition, she sent birthday cards to everyone in the entire church. I then remembered my brother-in-law Dale, who was confined to a wheelchair and placed in a nursing home at a very young age. Dale always had a smile for everyone and a word of encouragement everywhere he went. I am also thinking of another man. This man has been falsely accused and imprisoned. Even in prison he is currently trying to be an encouragement to others. I know another couple who had looked forward to retirement but are now limited in what they can do because they are caring for an elderly mother. Their gracious treatment of this fine lady is a testament to God’s grace in their life. I fondly think of this same sweet elderly Grandma, who plants a garden every year and will not let me leave without giving me a beautiful head of cabbage. Another couple, living away from family, opens their home to singles in their church every Thanksgiving so that these individuals might have the opportunity to share a dinner with others, instead of eating alone. Yes indeed, these folks have all learned how to bloom where they are planted.

You see, sometimes God gives me the privilege of entering into someone else’s garden as a visitor. These folks share their stories and I listen. I am always amazed at how different their garden is from mine. When we allow God to show us where and how to bloom each heart will flourish with its own unique beauty. Our heart’s garden will become a collection of blooms that are testimonies of God’s love and grace. Today I am reminded that I am not alone in change. Every one of us must choose to bloom wherever God plants us. Wherever we are in our life we must rest assured that God will help us find purpose in this place. We may never know why we are in our current situation but we can still ask God to help us find purpose. Blooming where we are planted is not only serving others but it is also our service to God.

Questions:

Are you struggling with your circumstance?

Have you been thinking that where you are right now is a terrible mistake?

Even if it is a mistake, have you asked God to show you where you might bloom?

How will you bloom where you are planted?

Prayer:

Dear Father in Heaven,

Please help me to understand that sometimes things that happen to me are completely out of my control. Help me not to drown in self pity but rather look up beyond my circumstances and see your face. God I know with you there are no mistakes. If I trust you, you will help me find ways to bloom where you have planted me. I don’t want to waste a single day. I am so thankful that you have already gone before me and that you already have in place the work I am to do. Thank you also for those that you will send to encourage me along my way. Yes God, help me to find your peace and joy as I bloom where you have planted me.

In Your Son’s Name I Pray. Amen.

Glorious Hope!

He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!

“Why do you look for the living among the dead?

He is not here; he has risen!”

Luke 24:5b-6a NIV

I know lots of people who say Christmas is their favorite holiday, but not me. I love Easter because it is full of wonderful eternal hope!

When I was a child I use to wonder every Easter why “Good Friday” was called good. From my childish perspective people being mean to Jesus was not a good thing! What an incredible blessing it is that God can take our childish faith and over the years of walking with him he can open our eyes to the understanding of spiritual things and teach us His wonderful truth.

One of the things I love most about having God in my life is that when I look back over the years I see over and over again how God has continually drawn me to himself. I see how he has put people in my path, how he has led me from place to place and church to church. Each and every time I believe that the things that happened to me during that time was neither luck nor coincidence, but it was a divine appointment for me to encounter more of God as I continued my walk of faith. It was during these times that God was faithful to take my childish lack of understanding that comes from a secular world’s mindset and lead me into spiritual understanding of his truth. “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.” I Corinthians 13:11 NIV

You see, “Good Friday” is indeed good because it is the event that gives believers GLORIOUS HOPE for the future. Jesus is risen! Because Jesus has conquered death and is no longer in the tomb we are the recipients of a glorious eternal hope! “For surely there is a hereafter, and your hope will not be cut off.” Proverbs 23:18 NIV

I am grateful for the biblically recorded accounts of those who walked with Jesus and witnessed seeing him after the resurrection. Upon seeing the Lord Thomas said, “My Lord and my God.” Mary Magdalene cried, “I have seen the Lord.” John testifies that, “We have seen his glory.” Peter reports, “We are eyewitnesses to his majesty.” The cry of many of Jesus’ followers on that first Easter was, “He is risen, He is risen indeed!” These reports give us glorious hope! I thank God for the numerous eyewitness reports.

And now I ask you, what is more beautiful than an Easter sunrise? Throughout our life we may witness many magnificent sunrises but none can compare to the spectacular beauty of an Easter sunrise that is full of eternal hope! Sunrises and sunsets are both fabulous feasts for our eyes. I also believe that sunrises and sunsets are God’s unique way of reminding us in every morning sunrise of his resurrection. In every beautiful sunset God ends our day with a visual of his faithfulness both now and forever.

It is wonderful to know that this life is not all there is. Someday we too will behold Jesus Christ. What a day that will be! In addition, we will also see all the believers who have preceded us to heaven. The opposite side of this is no hope at all. Life without Jesus is hopeless. “Hope deferred makes a heart sick…” Proverbs 13:12 NIV

Jesus died on “Good Friday” to give us glorious hope in this life and throughout eternity. I challenge you to accept this hope and to teach it to your children and your grandchildren. Share this message with your co-workers and your neighbors. Meditate on this glorious hope each and every time you see an awesome sunrise and praise God for his love and faithfulness every time you witness a beautiful sunset. “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1 NIV Our glorious hope for our eternal heavenly future is what makes life worth living. He is risen! He is risen indeed! This is our glorious hope!

Questions:

Do you personally know the joy of this glorious hope?

Is there anything in this life that is more hopeful, more dependable?

What does this glorious hope mean to you?

Prayer:

Dear Lord,

Thank you so much that I have a glorious hope because you conquered the grave. I am filled with joy at the prospect of living with you forever and with the hope of seeing again my loved ones who have died knowing you as their personal Savior. Help me Lord not to keep this good news to myself but help me to be bold and share this amazing hope with those you put in my path. Thank you for pursuing me and for continuing to open my childish eyes to new truth every day.

In your name I pray. Amen.

Were the Whole Realm of Nature Mine!

“Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars. Praise him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies. Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths, Lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do his bidding, You mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars, Wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds young men and maidens, old men and children.”

Psalm 148: 3-4, 7-10, 12 NIV

Today’s scripture is a call to praise God. Wow! What an amazing list the psalmist gives to us who are called to praise God. Yet, there is still more! This list goes on and on. In nature we find the smallest of insects, beautiful flowers, vegetation, soft fluffy clouds, butterflies that flutter, rainbows, green grassy meadows, sand and surf, lush woodlands, breathtaking sunrises and sunsets. Each and every God created thing is a part of God’s magnificent creation. An old hymn reminds me that “were the whole realm of nature (personally) mine, that would be a present far too small” to offer up to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

This is Holy Week. It will do us all well to reflect on the incredible sin sacrifice that Jesus Christ became for the sin of mankind. God said from now on there will be no more yearly sacrificial lambs. No, this year I will provide the lamb! God himself sent his one and only perfect sinless son to become that sacrifice.

The day that I accepted God’s free gift of salvation I became free from eternal punishment. My death sentence was pardoned. God washed my sinful heart with his son’s blood and I became forgiven, rescued, redeemed, and restored. You see, Jesus was sinless. He had no business being on that cross. But me, that’s another story. My ancestors blew it in the garden. They were without sin and then they chose sin. You and I inherited that sin. God’s holy presence cannot tolerate sin so the consequence was all mankind banished from God’s holy presence forever. Yet God in his amazing love for his creation made a way for us to come back home. In a nutshell, the way back home was through the death of his perfect sinless Son, Jesus. The fact is God only accepts a sacrifice that is perfectly pure and spotless, that’s why it had to be Jesus because no one else would do. But remember, it should be you and it should be me because we are the sinful ones.

This week I want to reflect on the fact that Jesus surrendering to death on the cross was not an easy assignment. In fact, he asked his Father to make it go away and find another way. But the answer to his prayer was no. And so it began the agony and dread, the sweat drops of blood, the human emotions and then accepting the will of the Father. He then moved on to betrayal, false accusations, the abandonment and denial of friends, the scourging, the mocking, the walk to Calvary, the weight of the cross, the weakness, the humiliation, the nails, the piercing of the sword, the spitting, the cursing, the taunting, the pain, the thirst, the loss of blood and breath, and then the abandonment of his Father, and then bearing the weight of the sin of the world. No, this was not an easy assignment!

Words will never be enough to tell him of your gratitude neither is there a suitable gift for you to give to him. If the whole of nature was yours, that would be a gift far too small! All you can do is let Christ Jesus know how grateful you are for this gift and then give him your heart, your life, your all. Today I pray that you will let Jesus do for you what he came to this world to do. Jesus Christ surrendered his life and became the once and for all sacrificial lamb for the sin of the world. The gift is inclusive but the acceptance of this gift is personal. This gift will not be yours unless you reach out in simple faith and take this gift as your own. Simply believe that this is God’s truth for you.

When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

When I survey the wondrous cross,

On which the Prince of glory died,

My richest gain I count but loss,

And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord that I should boast,

Save in the death of Christ, my God;

All the vain things that charm me most,

I sacrifice them to His blood.

See, from His head, His hands, His feet,

Sorrow and love flow mingled down;

Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,

Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine,

That were a present far too small;

Love so amazing, so divine,

Demands my soul, my life, my all.

Isaac Watts, published 1707 Hamburg Lowell Mason, 1824 Copyright: Public Domain

Questions:

When you look at the cross on which Jesus died do you count your greatest gain or accomplishment in this world as loss?

Do you hate the pride that you feel regarding anything that takes a higher position of importance in your life than Jesus Christ?

Do you find yourself boasting about eternity in any terms other than the blood of Jesus upon your life?

Have you accepted Jesus’ provision for your sin?

If not, what are the vain things of this world that are charming you and keeping you from accepting the gift of Jesus’ sacrifice?

Think about it. Have you ever seen a greater act of love displayed by any other man or any other god?

Prayer:

Dear Jesus,

Thank you for your marvelous act of love! I cannot fathom that kind of love. I do not see that kind of love modeled by any other man, religion, or god that this world would set up ahead of you. I thank you Jesus that forgiveness and redemption is mine through your sacrifice. I accept your gift to me in faith for now and forever. I am beginning to understand that if the whole realm of nature was mine to give you that would be a shamefully small gift to offer you as payment for all you have done for me. Yet your amazing love demands that I give you absolutely nothing except my soul, my life, my all. Lord Jesus, I do.

In Your Name I Pray. Amen.

On the Way to the Coffee Pot

“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith,” I Peter 5: 8-9a NIV

As was my habit, I had gotten up early. The birds were just waking up and singing their song. I knew if I could just get my first cup of coffee then maybe I would also have a song to sing.

It was a short walk from my first floor bedroom, across our great room and into the kitchen. When I was half way to the coffee pot I burst into tears for no reason at all. I felt a huge sadness come over me. By the time I reached the coffee pot I was sobbing. I did not know why.

Another part of my early morning routine is to get my coffee and go onto the porch or into the great room and sit in my chair and have my “Quiet Time.” It is here in my chair that I can get lost in reading the Bible, journaling, praying, or working on a Bible study. It is always a very special time for me as I spend time with Jesus. When I do this it sets the tone for my day! Everything seems to run smoother and be less irritating. Missing my “Quiet Time” is a problem because when I do, before I know it, I’m totally stressed out or upset about something!

I do believe that on this particular morning I was attacked by Satan on my way to the coffee pot. The method to his madness was to get to my spirit before I could get to my chair. Satan knew that if I made it to the chair his chances for discouraging me were less. He wanted me to become so depressed and upset that I would never make it to my chair. He wanted me to totally miss my appointment with Jesus.

I believe that through the protection of the Holy Spirit I was able to quickly recognize exactly what was going down! I immediately said in a loud and clear voice, “Satan, get out of my way, I am on my way to my chair whether you like it or not. In the name of Jesus Christ be gone. Satan, you may not go with me to my chair. I have an appointment to meet Jesus and you are not going to stop me!” Satan left. I poured my coffee. I went to my chair. My time with Jesus was sweet.

I will admit to you that some days I do not make it to my “Quiet Time”. It is difficult to have private time when I am visiting away from home or when I have house guests. When I miss this time alone with God there is always a price to be paid. I have come to realize that if I miss a day or two – I know it. If I miss three or four days – my husband knows it. If I miss several days – the whole world knows it!

My “Quiet Time” is how I keep my focus on Jesus instead of my circumstances. It is where I can praise God and offer adoration and worship to the all knowing, all present, all powerful God. It is where I can enter into a personal relationship with the God of the universe. It is the place that I can express my gratitude for all my blessings. It is where I can ask for wisdom and guidance for my day. It is where I can surrender personal hurts and painful situations. It is where I can choose to set aside my negative attitudes and give God my raw emotions. It is the place where I can leave those I love in God’s care. It is where I can grasp onto trust and release my fear. It is where I can be honest. It is the place where I can sit at the feet of Jesus and receive spiritual insight. It is where I can seek forgiveness and healing for the sin in my life. It is where I can pray for others. It is where I can silently be still and wait for God to speak to me in his still small voice. It is where God restores my soul. It is the place I can receive comfort, peace and power from the Holy Spirit. It is indeed, the garden of my heart!

Questions:

Do you have a “Quiet Time?”

Does spending time alone with God make a difference in your day?

Do you struggle to make this happen?

Have you considered the possibility that maybe Satan is creating distractions to keep you from spending time alone with God each day?

What can you do about that?

Prayer:

Dear Lord,

I pray that I will never stop trying to make time for you. Lord, I know that you understand the times when I cannot be with you. I know that you will still go with me throughout that day but that I may become weak and easily distracted. My time with you that day will come from quick prayers and short worship. I thank you that when I do spend time with you I am never disappointed but instead I am strengthened and refreshed. Help me Lord to make time for you daily. When I do miss my time alone with you, please protect me from Satan’s lie that tells me that I blew it as usual! Help me to fight that lie by getting back on track sooner opposed to later. God, Help me to be alert and recognize the sly tactics that Satan uses to distract me and keep me from spending quiet time alone with you.

In Your Name I pray. Amen.