Good morning!
It is a new week and a new day and I’m so glad you could join me as we continue our journey toward renewing our minds and improving our self-discipline. If you’re just joining me, you can read my article, “Morning and Evening: A New Self Discipline Journey” to learn more about why I am doing this, and how this may benefit you as well.
This week we are going to focus each day on growing closer to God. Each day this week I will provide affirmations, scriptures, and daily challenges regarding this topic. Next week will be a new one!
With that said, let’s start our morning together!
BREATHING EXERCISE
Before we begin let us take some deep breaths to calm our mind and prepare us for this mornings discipline.
MUSIC FOR A NEW DAY
I personally like to have some soft music in the background, so if that’s something you like as well below you will find a song you can play for the duration of our time together.
PRAYER For A Better Relationship With God
Now that we’re calm, let us transition to a time of prayer. Over the next few minutes you can pray on your own or feel free to use the following prayer:
Father God,
I am your child. Though you may feel far from me, I know no matter what happens, my identity as your child never changes.
You have chosen me, and you call me a “royal priesthood!” Thank you, Jesus, that your work on the cross gives me an eternal identity. You have clothed me in a new, clean, and pure garment of salvation. As I remember my identity, I will praise your name forever.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
Prayers for a Closer Relationship with God | www.livingproof.co
AFFIRMATIONS for A Better Relationship With God
Here are a few affirmations for this morning that you can put in your pocket and carry with you throughout your day.
As you read through them, repeat each one out loud at least three times before moving to the next. Take your time. Close your eyes and say them to yourself as well. Let these words sink into your heart and mind this morning:
- I will seek God with all of my heart and I will find Him.
- I will love God with all of my heart, soul, and mind.
- My God is a great comforter when I am in distress.
- I will worship God through every aspect of my life.
SCRIPTURES For A Better Relationship With God
As Christians, our affirmations should be rooted in the strength and power of God who empowers us and strengthens us to face every trial and every day (both good and bad).
Here are some scriptures that further support the affirmations we just spoke to ourselves. Again, repeat each one three times out loud before moving to the next one. Take your time. Maybe try to commit these to memory as well:
- Jeremiah 29:13, “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.”
- Matthew 22:37, “And he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'”
- 2 Corinthians 1:4, “Who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”
- 1 Peter 2:4-5, “As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
TODAYS CHALLENGE
Our challenge today is this: take 2 minutes every hour to pray.
Prayer is our ongoing conversation with God.
We have continuous conversations with people all the time. We send texts multiple times a day. We call people multiple times a day. We talk to people face-to-face multiple times a day. And yet, we struggle to give 5 minutes of our time to talk to God. And when I say talk to God, I don’t just mean dumping all of our problems on Him, but speaking AND listening.
So today, at some point each hour try to give God 1-2 minutes of your time in prayer. Whether that’s at the start or end of the hour, somewhere in between, be intentional. It could be as simple as asking Him for guidance and then listening. It could be as simple as crying out for help. It could be as simple as saying “I love you”. Think about the ways you communicate with the people you love, and do that with God.
Quote of the Day
I also wanted to include a little quote of the day that maybe you’ll find some inspiration in as well.
Today’s quote comes from Teresa of Avila (a spanish nun from the 1500’s) and she said:
Prayer is nothing else than being on terms of friedship with God.
Teresa of Avila
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