Total Devotion

Colossians 4:2 Devote yourself to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.

Often I can devote myself to a lot things. Good things even. I devote myself to my work, my family, reading leadership books, listening to sermons and podcasts. These are great things to that shouldn’t be neglected. If Im not careful I can spend all my time listening to what other people are saying about God that I neglect to spend time with Him myself. I’m not saying to stop listening to podcasts or work hard. What I am saying is that we can’t neglect something this powerful. We have to plugged into the power source, into this life breathing relationship that cannot be replaced. 

I have decided to devote myself to prayer this year. The very first thing I do when I wake up is spend time praying to the God of the universe. I get to talk to Him and listen to what He has to say to me. It doesn’t just stop there. I am praying with an alert mind and a thankful heart. I don’t just pray out of duty. This kind of prayer is alive and active and goes beyond the beginning of my day and follows me to work. I have started the day with God and continue to walk with Him. I start see how He leads me and answers prayers with an alert mind. I start to realize his fingerprints in my day to day life and my heart is full of gratitude. When you start to pray with an alert mind, God will show up and you will have no other response but thankfulness. 

My Prayer for 2016

"I dedicate this year to you. I don’t know what any of these days to come hold, but I know who holds them. I want this year to be a year of total devotion to you. I believe that you are big and in control and could do great things on my behalf. I love that about you Lord. This year I want to seek your face with even more zeal than I seek your mighty works. don’t get me wrong. I want to see you work mightily. I pray that you would do big things amongst us, but I don’t want to love what you do for me more than I love you. Jesus help me clear out space for our relationship to grow. I pray that you would fill this space. God I pray that you would guide my steps this year. I’m all yours. I love you Jesus and I’ll meet you here every morning."