Key scripture- “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV)

Author, Lysa TerKeurst asks us, what if someone followed you around with a video camera all day documenting your every move, catching all your words, facial expressions, actions and reactions on camera, then they play it on a reality TV show for all the world to see. What would be the glaring message of your life?

If you are like me, you are convicted thinking about this.

You see, if someone were to ask you, What are you all about? You would have some nice-sounding answers. But what actually happens during the strains of everyday life can sometimes betray your best intentions.

We all want to be loving and kind, but sometimes your family or someone at work seems to know the exact buttons to push that send you into a tailspin of emotion and exhaustion.

We all want to be a strong witness for Christ. So why is it you can read your Bible first thing in the morning and then find yourself honking at the person who cuts you off in traffic just an hour later?

I realize there is a place for God’s tender mercies for us in all this. But I also know that while no TV cameras are following us around, our life is speaking a message to everyone about what we really believe, and we want that message to honor Jesus.

Have you ever heard, “Great sermons are not preached, they are lived.” Do you long to live a message that speaks loud and clear, “Jesus is true, He is our Lord and Savior, and the principles found in the Bible work!”

Let’s just be honest: It’s tough being a sold-out soul for Christ stuck in a body that’s so tempted to sin. That’s why it’s essential that we view our time with God each morning as a preparation and an invitation.

• Preparation: Our key verse reminds us, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work,” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Every verse you read is part of God’s preparation for you that day. So, instead of just rushing to check off your to-do list that you spent time with God, you must allow His teachings to seep into your heart and mind. Then, you can prayerfully ask God to interrupt your natural flesh response and remind you throughout the day of the truths He taught you that morning.

• Invitation: The next essential view of your quiet time each morning is recognizing you have just invited Jesus to do life with you, so you need to look for His activity throughout your day. Your minute-by-minute theme becomes, “Not my will God, but Yours be done.”

So if something happens that causes your flesh to want to rear up and act ugly, you can say, “Not my will God, but Yours be done.” This slight pause and acknowledgment of God redirects your frustration and replaces it with grace, and most wonderful part of all, it helps you connect your time with Jesus to the everyday life choices that you make. Making that connection is one of the ways you personally hear from and experience God.

Pray this – Our Precious Heavenly Father, help me to take everything that You teach me during my quiet time with You and to practice it hour by hour and minute by minute throughout my day. Help me to commit all my ways to You, to trust in You, and to not lean on my own understanding. Before I make any decisions I will bring them to You and lay them at Your throne. I know that I can trust You to lead me, guide me, and train me in righteousness. Every morning I will start my day with You and in Your Word, because I want to do what is right, I want to walk in obedience and do what is pleasing to You. I know that You have gone before me and You already know what problems I will face today. No matter what my problems are, I will give each one of them to You so that You can show me what steps I need to take, and what I need to do, so that I do not turn to the right or the left but instead I walk in faith, and upright and blameless, as You lead me down the paths of righteousness. I trust in You and Your Word with all my heart. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen