I wander and stray, eventually realizing I’m lost.

Over weeks and months, my email inbox fills with unopened devotions. The FOMO in me hesitates to trash the pile and start fresh. The student in me wants to follow in sequence which presents a daunting backlog. So I read none and sacrifice my daily connection with God.

I miss the point. My time with God isn’t merely information but communication.

Anxiety encroaches in response to life events. Pounds pack on as I seek comfort in food. Then something jostles me, and I remember. God is in control. I don’t have to handle life alone.

Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7

Why do I repeatedly forget that morning devotions change the course of my day?

Daily. I need this reminder daily, perhaps even more often.

More than 10 years ago, Adam Hamilton, pastor at United Methodist Church of the Resurrection, impressed a humble posture of prayer on me with his shower prayer. I’ve long prayed in the shower (TMI!) so adding his prayer made sense.

Lord, as I enter the water to bathe,
I remember my baptism.
Wash me by your grace.
Fill me with your Spirit.
Renew my soul.
I pray that I might live as your child today,
and honor you in all that I do. Amen.

Churches sold water-resistant hangers, like hotel Do Not Disturb placards. Perhaps because I didn’t purchase one, my shower prayers regressed to a list of concerns for God and lacked an element of personal dedication to serve Him.

My ability to handle life improves in proportion to time spent communicating with God. Despite life’s complications, my soul fills with His goodness and Spirit. He clarifies my sense of purpose. He charges me to spread His love and increase His kingdom.

Daily. I need to rededicate myself daily as His instrument.

For the past few years, I’ve listened to The Wake-Up Call by Seedbed.com. Isn’t the name appropriate given my Seeds of Scripture theme? I’ve shared previously the impact of this 5 word prayer: Jesus, I belong to you.

The Wake-Up Call’s opening prayer centers me. As I speak the words as a personal prayer, my heart posture bows before God and affirms my deepest desire to be used for His purposes.

Jesus, I belong to you.
I lift up my heart to you.
I set my mind on you.
I fix my eyes on you.
I offer my body to you as a living sacrifice.
Jesus, we belong to you.

The Wake-Up Call on September 9th contrasted my ordinary life with a life transformed by this daily prayer, likening it to the burning bush from Exodus: “to be burning but not burning up—on fire but not consumed.”

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
2 Corinthians 4:8-9

The great mystery of God in us, working through us, pointing others to Him comes from the Holy Spirit. God’s light shines through the broken parts of our lives.

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.
2 Corinthians 4:6–7

We carry the fire of God which guides and energizes. This peculiar and inexplicable reality in us draws people to God. The Seedbed author, J.D. Walt says, “This burning-bush reality in your life will run as deep as your desire for it.”

Daily. Lord, I need your daily filling.

We establish habits in September that define our rhythms until June.

• How much do you desire the fire of God’s Spirit to burn in you?
• How might you form a sustainable habit of dedicating your life to God’s service?
• Will you read a Christian devotional, subscribe to an email, adopt one of these prayers?
• How might you measure and share the impact it has on your life?

#SeedsofScripture #readthebiblebetter #biblestudy #scripturestudy #Christinme #transformed #betransformed #transformedlife #dailyprayer #surrendertoGod #dailydevotion #christiandevotional #thewakeupcall 

This post was inspired by J.D. Walt’s Sept 9, 2024, devotion on The Wake-up Call.