I decided that I wanted to start disciplining myself by getting up early each morning and going to the prayer time at my church. 6:30-7:30 each morning, and 6:15 tomorrow. I've tried to discipline myself before, but this has been working out so much better. I cannot decide to push the time back a little bit to sleep in, but I still have to decide to go or not. And when I have the tired level in which I would normally just push the time back, I still want to make it to the meeting and so I push myself to do it. I know that there are still times I make bad decisions, and go to sleep late at night and just cannot get up - and that I shouldn't need something else to discipline me, I still know this is a step in the right direction.
Besides the disipline aspect of going to the prayer meetings, I find them also very encouraging. Being with other beleivers and listening to their prayers and burdens is awesome. It is nice hearing how more mature Christians pray, what they pray for, and it is helping me in my prayer life.
Praying first thing in the morning is also very refreshing. For me at least, it is so hard to get going in the morning. And you'd think that praying with your eyes closed would make it even harder. But it isn't. I feel so much more awake and empowered to go through the day.
While I am saying so much about the prayer meeting, just a thought: Don't think that it is the prayer meeting that is doing all these changes in my life. It really is God, and I'm just realizing the benefits of prayer with other beleivers. I'm sure there will be many things I'll be all excited about, but never beleive that it is just that one thing that is driving me. You can't pray unless you have a Savior to pray to - a God who cares and loves you - and a spirit that fills you.
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