“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” (Mark 1:35, NIV)

As Christians, it is our goal to model ourselves after our Savior. There are obvious reasons why Jesus prayed the very first thing in the morning. Since Christ is our number one priority, what better way to honor Him than to make Him the focus of our day. By starting our day with prayer we are showing commitment to the Lord and disciplining ourselves for the day that is about to begin.

Before we head off to work, it is important to invite the Holy Spirit into our day to intercede for us as things begin to get a little crazy. Without the help of the Holy Spirit we are just humans – weak, indecisive, and vulnerable to the world around us. We waste time, we succumb to temptation, and we lack order and discipline in our thinking and in our dealings with other people. We’re often judgmental and consequently, we treat people unfairly. These things are often caused because we don’t take the time for morning prayer.

Prayer sets the stage for the entire day. When we pray and when we finally are able to defeat those little demons, our lives are transformed. The things we do all day, the people we meet, and the temptations that arise are no match for our Lord and Savior. The simple act of having a morning conversation with Jesus is the key to our peace and contentment throughout the day. Jesus is our friend, our advocate. Why wouldn’t we start our day with prayer?

Listen to my words, Lord,
    consider my lament.
Hear my cry for help,
    my King and my God,
    for to you I pray.

In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice;
    in the morning I lay my requests before you
    and wait expectantly. (Psalm 5:1-3, NIV)

Enjoy your day, “Working for Christ!”