The day stretched out in front of me—long, busy, and a bit intimidating. How would I even come close to accomplishing all I had to do?
I got up early and immediately went to work—not my normal routine. Neglecting my quiet time with the Lord niggled at my heart as I attacked my to-do list. I’ll stop and have my quiet time in a few minutes, I kept telling myself. But it never happened. As a result, my day fell apart, and my tasks went mostly undone. I ended up frazzled and exhausted.
“I don’t have space in my mornings to spend time with the Lord,” I’ve often heard people say. “It’s a luxury I can’t afford. I would never get anything done.”
What I’ve learned—the hard way—is that my time with the Lord is not a luxury. It’s a necessity. When I give Him the first part of my day, the rest of it goes much smoother. I accomplish more as I keep my focus on Him and depend on His strength, wisdom, and direction. It’s the only way I can, as they say, work smarter, not harder.
The Bible tells us to seek first the kingdom of God … first … not when we think we might be able to squeeze it into our busy schedule (Matthew 6:33).
When your days are the busiest, give God the first part. Let Him fill and equip you for the day ahead. He will redeem your time, bless the work of your hands, and help you work smarter. That’s a promise!
Andrea Merrell is an award-winning author and professional freelance editor. She is an associate editor with Christian Devotions Ministries and former associate editor with Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas and Iron Stream Media. Andrea is the author of Murder of a Manuscript: Writing and Editing Tips to Keep Your Book Out of the Editorial Graveyard, Praying for the Prodigal, and Marriage: Make It or Break It. She has been published in numerous anthologies and online venues and teaches workshops on writing and editing. You’re invited to subscribe to her weekly devotions at www.AndreaMerrell.com or visit www.TheWriteEditing.com, a blog designed specifically for writers and editors.