Prayer Journal

Tuesday, December 16, 2003

To most people, determination is finishing what you've started regardless of the obstacles in your way. But for the Christian, it's much more than that. It's the will to daily stay on track even when life tries to knock you off.

I don't know about you, but I have trouble doing the things I know I need to do while I steadily add new things to my list daily that can wait. They're called priorities and they determine what things we must do today and what things we will put off till later.

For over an hour this morning, I've put off writing the morning devotional and instead have been praying - for those who requested it and things on my heart. But I stopped praying and began writing this because some people look forward to reading it in the morning. I'll pray some more after I finish this piece. If someone interrupts me to request prayer, I'll stop what I'm doing and pray. When I'm done, I'll return to what I was doing before.

I'm looking right now across my desk at a document I've been preparing for days that is next in line behind this devotional. Next, I need to... You get the idea. Priorities are set when we assign more importance to some things than others. Will I finish what I've started today? That's yet to be seen, but God willing and by his grace I can and I will.

What's the highest priority in your life today? Ninety-five percent of people say work followed by family. Some will say helping others and others may say prayer, Bible study or worship, but one thing is certain: unless we work we can't eat. But work alone makes no room for God even if your work is ecclesiastical.

David gave the Word of God top priority in his life while everything else came after it. Now, you might be saying, "How can I assign the Bible top priority in my life? I hardly have time to read it and I only get to attend church a couple of hours a week if that!"

David made God's word a priority in his life by reading it, memorizing it, meditating on it, praying it, preaching it and practicing it. But all those things came second behind one thing: He was determined to do what it said as long as he lived and regardless of how he felt.

Will you make David's commitment today and serve God with your life and not just your lips?

Just Thinkin'... WebServant

Scripture comes from the Holy Bible, New International Version; (c)1978 by New York International Bible Society

Copyright © 1998-2003 James R. Green and Prayertower Ministries
All Rights Reserved

Prayertower
Past Devotions
Pray4me
PrayerRm

I'll pray today for...
* My spouse
* My children
* Their friends
* My friends
* My employer
* My city
* My country
* Civic leaders
* Schools
* Teachers

* The sick
* The lost
* Those in despair
* The hospitalized
* The grieving
* Widows
* Orphans

* My church
* My pastor
* Church leaders
* Other churches
* Persecuted church
* Missionaries
* Myself