Setting Your Heart on God - Your Nightly Prayer - November 11th

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Setting Your Heart on God
Your Nightly Prayer
By Robert Hampshire

TONIGHT’S SCRIPTURE

"Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established." - Proverbs 16:3, ESV

SOMETHING TO PONDER

Our lives are made up of thousands of small decisions that fall between a handful of key, life-defining big decisions that end up as milestone moments. Big decisions about priorities, careers, marriage partners, and major financial moves can create junctures in our life's journey. As a Christian, though, we are never alone when making these big decisions (or the small decisions). In fact, if we live faithfully to God and in accordance with his word, the vast majority of those decisions are essentially made for us!

Solomon teaches in Proverbs 16:3 to "commit your work to the Lord." This kind of statement reminds me of my high school years when I was playing football for my high school team. I learned quickly that if I was going to improve into the kind of strong player that I needed to be in order to be competitive, my life had to be oriented around the sport. For example, the things I ate, how much water I drank, how much sleep I got, how well I did at school, how hard I exercised, and even what I did with my free time all ended up impacting my growth as a football player. In many ways, you could say that I had to commit my work to the football team. I could not play another sport at the same time and, of course, I couldn't play for another football team. And as a result, I improved and did well as a player (or at least, as well as I personally could).

In the same way, in order to live a healthy, victorious Christian life, I cannot live my life on my own terms, follow my feelings, pursue my own comfort, or just do what seems right to me. I have to commit my work to the Lord. I have to do what he's already told me to do in his word as well as what the Holy Spirit reveals. And come to find out, all those small choices, as well as the big choices, matter. And the promise that God gives me in his word is that when I do commit my work to him, my "plans will be established." That doesn't mean it'll be easy, but it does mean that I will be confident and well-grounded and successful in the life that he has called me to live.

YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER

Heavenly Father,
We confess to you that we often try to make choices on our own and separate from your Holy Spirit, and then later come back and pray that you will bless us. Show us what areas of our lives. We have yet to surrender. And then, as we live our life today, and as we go into the coming season and chapter of our life, help us to set the goal of seeking first your kingdom in your righteousness above our own.
Amen.

THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE UPON

1. Think back on your life and take notice of the times that the Holy Spirit established your plans by arranging opportunities and connecting you with relationships that helped you live for God. Thank him for his work.

2. Picture where you want your life to be in one year… five years… or ten years. What steps do you need to take right now that will lead you in that right direction?

3. Take a minute to thank God for his faithfulness in meeting your needs, protecting you, and directing your steps as you follow after him.

Reflect on tonight’s prayer and share how God met you there. Join the Your Nightly Prayer discussion on the Crosswalk Forum.

Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Bohdan Bevz

Robert Hampshire is a pastor, teacher, writer, and leader. He has been married to Rebecca since 2008 and has four children: Brooklyn, Bryson, Abram, and Aubrey. Robert attended North Greenville University in South Carolina for his undergraduate and Liberty University in Virginia for his Masters. He has served as a worship pastor, youth pastor, family pastor, church planter, and Pastor of Worship and Discipleship. He now serves at  Calvary Baptist Church in Florence, South Carolina. He furthers his ministry through his blog site, Faithful Thinking, and YouTube channel. His life goal is to serve God and His Church by reaching the lost with the gospel, making devoted disciples, equipping and empowering others to go further in their faith and calling, and leading a culture of multiplication for the glory of God. Find out more about him here.

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