Below you will see a picture of my Bible Journal and my beloved coffee. This picture was taken some time ago early in the morning before I clocked into work. I do believe that how we start our day determines how the rest of the day will go. Before I would get up a little later than I do now, which is 5am because I liked to sleep in and just get ready fast to leave. But I realized something, I would always rush my prayer or I wouldn’t dedicate much time to God. I wouldn’t spend time in His word or even having conversations with Him. I didn’t like feeling that way because I know God deserves better than that and one of my main prayers was to have a better and deeper relationship with God, but I wasn’t getting anywhere because my routine stayed the same.
It was time to switch up my routine, so I decided if I needed more time to give to God I had to get up earlier, I had to switch my focus as soon as I woke up, and I had to fight my flesh that wanted to keep hitting the snooze button. Something that I found to be helpful is that as soon as I hear my alarm I get up and turn my light on. I go to youtube and put on a half hour or an hour long preaching and I listen to it while I get ready. You’d be surprised what sticks to your mind and spirit from what you hear and I find myself meditating during this time and throughout the day on the topics the Preacher discusses. Whether it be from “Are we listening to the voice of God? Are we following the will of God for our lives? The perfect plan for a deeper prayer.” A lot of the preachings I listen to are so Spirit led that I can’t help but be grateful and thank God for always ministering to my soul when I need it the most.
You see the more you spend time with God the more sensitive you become to His voice and Spirit. Life as a Christian is anything but easy but when you allow God to guide you, to lead you to where He wants you to go the easier it becomes. Sometimes the first step of having a deeper relationship with God is surrendering who you are and submitting to who He wants you to be. A lot of you may think “That doesn’t sound like a loving relationship. Why should I stop being myself for someone I can’t even see.” Well you see, God is a God of free will and He loves us so much that He lets us decide the life we want to live but you also have to remember that this world is filled with so much sin and as much as you’d like to think you’re your own person you’re really not. Why you may ask? Because you are slaves to your flesh and earthly desires. The beautiful thing about coming to God and submitting your flesh is that because Jesus died and paid for our sins on the cross we are no longer slaves of this world, we are no longer chained down by the enemy. I’m not saying temptation never comes our way but it is easier to deny it when we have God and we’re filled with His word and Spirit.
Another change I made was starting my Bible Journal, honestly it’s something I look forward to filling out. I’m going to be honest though this past week it was busier than usual and harder to journal but my goal for this week is to get back on track. Writing down verses that help you out each day, or just writing down your thoughts and how good God is, even writing down prayers and when God answers them uplifts your spirit.
Everyone’s relationship with God is different, something that works for me may not work for you and that is okay. Find what works for you and make it happen. Remember this needs to be something you want, desire, and are willing to work hard for because things that matter are never easy but they’re so worth it. I leave you with these verses that a good friend sent me this morning:
“I sought the Lord, and He heard me,
And delivered me from all my fears.
They looked to Him and were radiant,
And their faces were not ashamed.
This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him,
And saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him,
And delivers them.” Psalms 34:4-7
So do whatever you need to fall in love with God and His word again, He truly misses you.
God bless & Love always,
Janny Mari
One Day at A Time with Janny Mari 