In his message on Sunday, Pastor Franklin spoke about not giving up on the Lord when things get hard. How many of us have thought that God forgot about us because something didn’t work out the way we had planned or hoped? However, according to Isaiah 55:8-9, His thoughts are not our thoughts, and His ways are not our ways, they are much higher and better than ours. Doesn’t 2 Peter 3:8 also remind us not to forget that with the Lord, one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as a day? What does this mean? It means that even His timing is not ours. When we think He is late, we need to remind ourselves that He is never late, He is always on time.

A powerful example of this is the story of Lazarus. Jesus deliberately delayed his arrival, allowing Lazarus to die, only to raise him from the dead and reveal God’s glory through it. Have we ever stopped to consider that maybe God is trying to teach us something through our trials? More than anything else, He desires our full and complete devotion. He does not want partial obedience or halfhearted commitment. Think of David, he was called a man after God’s own heart. Why? Because he was obedient to the Lord in all he did.

Every believer needs to establish a personal altar for God in their home, a dedicated place where they can be alone with Him. Choose a time of day that works for you and decide what, besides the Bible, you will bring. Maybe it’s a journal, a hymnbook, worship songs, or a Bible commentary to help you understand what you read. But most importantly, be yourself with Him. Open up to Him as you would to a trusted friend, because He is your friend. Worship Him for who He is and what He has done. Confess your sins, pray not only for your needs but also for others, and surrender everything you are and have at His feet, it all belongs to Him anyway.

Lay down your life as a willing sacrifice, and let Him come in and dwell with you. This is the only way to be fully committed, as David was.

Dear Heavenly Father,

I confess that I have not been faithful in reading Your Word daily, praying every day, and worshiping You every day. Yet, I don't often go a day forgetting to eat. How it must grieve You that I pay more attention to my body than to my soul and spirit. Thank You that You reminded us through Jesus to pray every day when he prayed, “Give us today our daily bread.” I know I need the sustenance of Your Word since, “Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” Help me find a place and time each day to be alone with You for worship, prayer, and feeding on Your Word. Help me make it a reliable habit and not consider the needs of my flesh as more important. In the Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Today’s encouragement is about setting aside a time and place to be with God in spirit and in truth – not making a physical shrine of religious symbols. Then our prayers are like incense (Psalm 141:2), and our praise and thanks are like offerings (Psalm 116:17) that prepare the way for God to work in us and for us.