There are times in our life when God allows us to have a “smooth” path to follow.
Get up, eat breakfast, go to school, go to work, come home, do some laundry, make dinner, clean house, go to bed and then start all over again. Nothing that we would consider difficult just life. But it is times like these, where it is easy to lose our focus. We get caught up in the “routine” of the day.
When things are good or normal and everything is going “smooth” we forget about God and our need for Him. We let our quiet time with our Bible slide or say I will pray later; I really don’t have any “big” problems to pray about.
Before you know it, it has not been just a day or two since you last read your Bible and prayed but it has been a week, a month, or even longer.
Proverbs 1:32 warns us.
For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity (smooth times) of fools shall destroy them.
To put it simply, when things are good, we don’t make God a priority!
Okay, so how do we take those smooth times and use it to honor God?
First, learn to recognize when you start letting things “slide.”
When you see that you have missed a few days (hopefully not many) stop and pray and ask God to get you back on track.
Here are some ideas to help you stay on track:
- Keep a calendar where you mark when you have done your quite time and prayers.
- Get a daily devotional book and keep a book mark showing where you are
- Send a daily text message to a friend (or even yourself) about what you have read and prayed about.
- Keep a journal with thoughts about your Bible reading and prayers
- Enlist a friend who is willing to keep you accountable
The smooth times can be times of great blessing and growth for a Christian. Remember, God knows your routine even better than you do.
Matthew 6:31-33 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
The routine of your day can actually allow the Christian more time with their Bible and prayer life.
Make a schedule. The key is STICK TO IT! Include in your schedule your routine items and include a specific time for Bible study and prayer. Then stick to your schedule! Okay, I know that things happen and schedules get changed, but if you are committed to put God first in your life, He promises to make that happen.