Daily Time With God

I’ve been trying to carve out a little more time each morning to sit with Jesus and to really enter in to the work I believe He is trying to do as He transforms my heart and my life.  This is the daily template or pattern that I’ve been using in my journal each morning as I come to spend time with Him.

I take a little time and journal through each point.  For the reading, I just read wherever God has me in scripture that day.  I’m currently reading through the New Testament with friends, so I just pick up where I left off the day before and I read the daily reading.  When I’m not following a plan, I do the same thing but read until I have something I want to talk over with the Holy Spirit.  

1.  Be Still- I take a few minutes and just acknowledge that God is already present with me and I ask for the grace to be present with Him. Then I take a couple of minutes to just be still. 

2.  How Do I Come?-  I ask myself, “How do I come?“. I write down what is on my heart and mind, how my body feels, and what’s important to me in that moment.  I’m really honest with God in this space and share the good and the hard. 

3.  What Do I Desire?-  I ask myself, “What do I desire?” As I do this, I  think about more than just a prayer list. I try to think about how I really need God to meet me right then.  I think about what the real desires of my heart are in this particular moment and what parts of God’s character I long for.

4.  Who/What Am I Praying For?- I use this space to pray over the people and situations that God brings to mind.

5. Read-  I read the scripture passage for the day and I write down any notes or verses that stood out to me. 

6. What Is God Saying?-  I ask myself, “What is God saying?” And I write down my thoughts about it. 

7.  How Am I Being Invited To Respond And Partner With God?-  I ask myself, “How am I being invited to respond and partner with God?”  And I journal through how I feel God leading me.

8.  Prayer Of Thanks, Commitment, and Help-  I write a prayer of thanks, commitment, and help. I thank God for the time we spent together and I commit to whatever direction I feel Him leading. I also ask for grace to stay present to Him through the day.   

I hope this is as transformative for you as it has been for me!