Sweet Hour of Prayer

Although I have been a Christian my whole life and have a general knowledge of the Bible, I have never read it cover to cover. I probably have read most books, some several times. I also know a fair amount of scripture verses and many Bible stories and have a pretty good general understanding of the timeline of the Bible. But I have wanted to learn more. Not just learn more about the Bible, but really understand who God is and what His will and plan for me is.

So last year, the day before my birthday (on September 25th) I decided I was going to read through my Bible, cover to cover, in a year. I started that morning in Genesis 1:1.

Since then, I have attempted to spend one hour every morning alone with God. Let me say, that some of the sweetest and best moments of my life have been spent in those one hour mornings. What started as a simple plan for one hour alone with God to read His word, has turned into a life giving and heart renewing experience!

Now, It hasn't' happened every morning. For those of you who know me know that my morning start very early, 4:00am. By the time hubby is at work and I go to sit quietly on the couch it is 5:00. The girls wake up about 6:30. That gives me a good solid hour in peace and quite to read and meditate. Now of course, some days I am so tired I fall asleep only to wake up when the girls do, or sometimes the girls get up at 5:00 and don't go back to bed... everyday life sometimes just happens and that's Ok! I know God hasn't taken me on this journey for me to be super strict with my schedule and be legalistic about times. Just the opposite! I believe He wants me tolearn how to go with the flow a little bit and realize that although every morning isn't perfect, I can always make a little time for Him. I like it to be an hour, but sometimes it's 5 minutes. Sometimes it's a single verse that I read in 30 seconds.

Anyway, I am only about a month and a half away from my one year and I am not quite even halfway through the Bible. I'm sure I could still finish in my one year time frame if I wanted, but I don't think I am going to. My goal has changed and now includes no time frame. I think I needed the incentive for me to make the commitment in the beginning, but now that it is part of my daily routine I want to read at a slow and steady pace and soak up everything I can!

I have kept a journal since I started. In there I will sometimes record my thoughts on different subjects, write out questions on things I don't yet understand and write out verses that touch my heart.

Sometime I spend as much time writing as I do reading! I usually pray in the beginning. I just ask that God would revel His word to me and teach me. I then will pray for my family and anything else on my heart. Sometimes 45 minutes of my hour is in prayer and I only read for about 15minutes. There are days where instead of the bible I will read from a devotional book instead. Sometimes after 45 minutes of reading I stop right there as I feel I have more than enough to meditate and ponder. Other times, after I pray, I will sit and listen to hymns almost the entire time. The words and the music will touch my heart in such a way that the tears will just stream down my face, in awe of God's great love for me. His love overwhelms me!

The reason I am sharing this is because if I would have just stuck to my original goal of reading enough of my Bible to finish in a year, I think I would have missed out on a lot. I have learned a lot just about being ready and willing to change your plans! It's more important to follow where the spirit leads you, instead of your own plans. Whether it be concerning morning reading time, or anything else in life. Our plans may not be what's best and I want to always make time to hear God's gentle and quite voice because I want to Go where He leads me. I believe that it's imperative to make a time for hearing God's voice. God knows us and He knows our hearts. He can speak to us in an hour, and He can speak to us in 5 minutes. But, He won't speak to us if we don't invite Him in to do so. Won't you make some time this morning to let Him speak to your heart? He is waiting.... I know because I found Him!