bits from bob....
bits from bob....
I recently read an article which mentioned John Stott's usual discipline of prayer. According to the article, Stott begins each day with a prayer similar to this:
"Good morning, heavenly Father. Good morning, Lord Jesus. Good morning, Holy Spirit."
After words of worship and praise he continues, "Father, I pray that I may live this day in your presence and please you more and more. Lord Jesus, I pray that this day I may take up my cross and follow you. Holy Spirit, I pray that this day you will fill me with yourself and cause your fruit to ripen in my life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Holy, blessed, and glorious Trinity, three Persons in one God, have mercy upon me. Amen."
The Psalms are filled with references to morning prayers and devotionals with God. You will hear my voice in the morning, in the morning I will direct me prayer (Ps. 5:3); I will sing of thy mercies in the morning (Ps. 59:16). God hears evening, morning and noon (Ps. 55:17). Ps. 88:13 refers to a morning prayer, and Ps. 143:8 refers to an awareness of God's loving kindness in the morning. Ps. 92:1-2 suggests it is good to praise the Lord and to proclaim his love in the morning.
Do you begin your days with God? My waking thought most mornings is, "Thank you God for being my God; thank you for letting me be your child." Mornings are wonderful time to begin a conversation with God, and to develop an awareness of his presence which can last all day through.
