Hopeful in Anticipation for Time With My Lord Each Morning

In the south, especially in small towns, I see many interesting roadside signs, signs which often bring a smile to my face. While recently driving through the small town of Newberry, FL, the sign at First Baptist Church read, “Prayer – How We Speak to God. The Bible – How God Speaks to Us.” Do you ever long to hear the voice of God speaking to you? Do you need direction? Comfort? Assurance? God does speak, and He is speaking to you today . . . in His Word.

Do you follow the practice of personal daily devotions? In some way I have tried to follow this discipline since my high school years. Often I considered myself unsuccessful in my attempts to listen to God by spending time daily with Him. I would set goals, such as reading through the Bible in a year. But I’d fail. I would get behind one day, and then behind two days, then a week, or a month. And then I would give up, for a while at least. Sometimes I was more successful than at other times in accomplishing my goals. But, somewhere along the way I would fail again.

However, through all my failed attempts at daily devotions, as I tried and I struggled, I came to a couple of realizations. First of all, when I did begin my day in Bible reading and prayer, those days just seemed to go better. Even if trouble arose, I had a peace and assurance to face my troubles with the presence and the love of my Lord. Second, I came to understand that, even if I failed in my personal goal of being in God’s Word every day, my whole week was blessed by the days when I did begin with devotions. I realized that, even if I only spend personal time with my Lord every other day, that is still 180 times more each year than if I spent no time in personal Bible reading and prayer at all. Even if I only found time once a week to read my Bible and go to my Savior in prayer, that was still 52 more times each year than if I spent no time in personal Bible reading and prayer at all.

With these two realizations, I developed an attitude of not so much trying to meet my own goals, but of wanting to be with my Lord and Savior, and knowing that I needed my Lord’s presence and blessings each day. Because I wanted to be with God, I became more faithful. For perhaps the last 30-35 years, my time in devotions has been very regular. And, somehow, I have reached my personal goals of reading and praying for at least 25-30 years. For the next couple of weeks, I want to share with you some lessons and blessings I have received from my personal devotions, and perhaps encourage you to follow this practice as well, just in case you are not already doing so. God is faithful with His children.

For example, two weeks ago I was reading in my current devotional from Genesis 25 and 26. As Isaac and Ishmael bury their father, Abraham, we hear about these two men, whose mothers were at odds with one another. We are told of Ishmael and his sons, “17 Altogether, Ishmael lived a hundred and thirty-seven years. He breathed his last and died, and he was gathered to his people. 18 His descendants settled in the area from Havilah to Shur, near the border of Egypt, as you go toward Asshur. And they lived in hostility toward all their brothers.” (Genesis 25:17-18 NIV) Ishmael and his family sound somewhat ominous and threatening. But, right away in Genesis 26 we hear of God’s promise and blessings to Isaac. “2 The LORD appeared to Isaac and said, ‘Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live. 3 Stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you and will bless you. For to you and your descendants I will give all these lands and will confirm the oath I swore to your father Abraham. 4 I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed.’” (Genesis 26:2-4)

I learned that, in response to a possible cause of fear for Isaac from Ishmael, God gives His promise and blessings to assure Isaac. In fact, God is with Isaac for more than just Isaac’s relationship to Ishmael. God is with Isaac into eternity, in ways that bless the whole world, in ways that bless you and me. Then in the devotional writing which follows the Scripture reading, the writer pointed out from this reading, “That promise and its fulfillment in the cross of our Lord Jesus . . . gives peace and meaning to our daily lives and hope for our eternity.” With that peace and meaning of God in my life, I then was able to face the day, as we were newly arrived in Florida.

Paul tells Timothy, “14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:14-17) Knowing that God uses holy Scripture to “make me wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus,” and knowing that in His Word God “equips me for every good work,” I look forward to time with my Lord every morning.

How often do you spend time with your Lord in Bible reading and prayer? Are you experiencing the blessing of having God speak to you daily?