"Relying on God has to begin all over again every day as if nothing had yet been done.” wrote C. S. Lewis in his book Letters To Malcolm: Chiefly On Prayer. We can no more go on the strength of yesterday's prayers than we can use the energy of yesterday's breakfast!
Each new day provides the opportunity to approach the throne of God before we rush into the day. Not only should we take time to worship God, but the writer to the Hebrews exhorted us to come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16
It is helpful to keep the acrostic A.C.T.S (R.C. Sproul) in mind when praying.
Adoration: Glorify God and adore Him for who He is as Sovereign Lord.
Confession: Confess known sin and ask for forgiveness.
Thanksgiving: Give thanks for the gift of salvation and all the blessings in your life.
Supplication: Bring your needs and those of others to the throne.
Before we face the demands of the day, it is also recommended to spend time in the Word, even if it is only ten minutes to focus our minds on a thought for the day. Some have their 'quiet time' in the morning, while others prefer to spend a longer time in the evening.
Photo from Pixabay
Regardless of the time of day, personal Bible reading/study is the key to Christian growth and understanding of the faith. There are numerous helps online which provide a yearly Bible reading plan and devotions for encouragement each day (sites such as biblestudytools, YouVersion, biblegateway). While these are useful especially for beginners, it is also helpful to read the Biblical text and jot down comments and questions in a notebook as we read.
Mr John McQuoid, in his book 'Knowing and Doing', suggests reading about 10 verses and asking the following questions:
What is the main thought (subject) in these verses?
Do they teach me anything about God?
Is there a lesson for me in these verses? For example,
- Is there a command I should obey?
- Is there a sin I should avoid?
- Is there an example I should follow?
- Is there a promise God has given me?
As we walk the Christian journey, we can receive renewed strength and encouragement by the power of the Holy Spirit each day.
The Bible reminds us that we live through God's mercy, which is renewed every morning:
Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,
because His compassions fail not.
They are new every morning;
great is Your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22-23