Daily Devotionals
Friday, January 12, 2024 (Ashley)
I like New Year’s resolutions, do you? I know the data isn’t great about their outcomes but I think it’s a fun excuse to implement some new habits and goals!
One of the habits I have put into place since the new year is “sky before screens”. The act really is as simple as it sounds, before I look at a screen, I look at the sky. There is research and more details about this but my brain doesn’t store information like that so if you are interested, you’ll have to do your own research. For now, just take my word for it
I unusually wake up between 7am and 8am which is pretty accurate with the sun's current rising time. I open my eyes and direct my focus to our nearest bedroom window where the sunrise is peaking through. Because of some of the research on how long… and because I’m not a JUMP out of bed person, this takes a few moments. In that time, I’ve been praying, specifically in three parts. As my mind and body are waking up, I fix my eyes on the sky and my heart on the Lord. My prayer looks something like this
1. I greet our Lord by acknowledging who he really is: Good morning, Almighty Father. Alpha Omega. Comforting Healer.
2. I thank him for things I find true in that exact moment: The opportunity to see another sunrise. The smell of my freshly washed pillow case. The warmth under our blanket when the cool breeze from the window brushes across my face.
3. Lastly, and this is really the big, NEW one, I ask him for guidance throughout my entire day: I invite him into every part of my life. To help me be the best version of myself. I request that he directs my actions, words, and declares his purpose for my life.
This simple prayer has greatly provided me with comfort and peace in the last few weeks! I am reminded of 2 Chronicles 1:7-12, and the story of Solomon becoming king. God asked Solomon for anything he wanted and Solomon humbly asked for wisdom in order to be a good king. God not only gave Solomon wisdom but he blessed him with wealth, riches, and fame such as no other king had before him or would ever have after him.
When seeking God is at the top of our priorities, we can trust that He will take care of everything we need and MORE! It doesn’t guarantee that we’ll be wealthy and famous like Solomon but we can trust that God will provide us gifts that lead to richly rewarding lives. If you ask me, richly rewarding lives only exist when a person is living out their God given purpose each and every day. And that, my friends, is true wealth greater than anything we can imagine anyways!
So before you reach for that screen in the morning, I challenge you to fix your eyes on the sky, your heart on the Lord and remember, the same wisdom that was given to Solomon is available to us!
Ashley
One of the habits I have put into place since the new year is “sky before screens”. The act really is as simple as it sounds, before I look at a screen, I look at the sky. There is research and more details about this but my brain doesn’t store information like that so if you are interested, you’ll have to do your own research. For now, just take my word for it
I unusually wake up between 7am and 8am which is pretty accurate with the sun's current rising time. I open my eyes and direct my focus to our nearest bedroom window where the sunrise is peaking through. Because of some of the research on how long… and because I’m not a JUMP out of bed person, this takes a few moments. In that time, I’ve been praying, specifically in three parts. As my mind and body are waking up, I fix my eyes on the sky and my heart on the Lord. My prayer looks something like this
1. I greet our Lord by acknowledging who he really is: Good morning, Almighty Father. Alpha Omega. Comforting Healer.
2. I thank him for things I find true in that exact moment: The opportunity to see another sunrise. The smell of my freshly washed pillow case. The warmth under our blanket when the cool breeze from the window brushes across my face.
3. Lastly, and this is really the big, NEW one, I ask him for guidance throughout my entire day: I invite him into every part of my life. To help me be the best version of myself. I request that he directs my actions, words, and declares his purpose for my life.
This simple prayer has greatly provided me with comfort and peace in the last few weeks! I am reminded of 2 Chronicles 1:7-12, and the story of Solomon becoming king. God asked Solomon for anything he wanted and Solomon humbly asked for wisdom in order to be a good king. God not only gave Solomon wisdom but he blessed him with wealth, riches, and fame such as no other king had before him or would ever have after him.
When seeking God is at the top of our priorities, we can trust that He will take care of everything we need and MORE! It doesn’t guarantee that we’ll be wealthy and famous like Solomon but we can trust that God will provide us gifts that lead to richly rewarding lives. If you ask me, richly rewarding lives only exist when a person is living out their God given purpose each and every day. And that, my friends, is true wealth greater than anything we can imagine anyways!
So before you reach for that screen in the morning, I challenge you to fix your eyes on the sky, your heart on the Lord and remember, the same wisdom that was given to Solomon is available to us!
Ashley
