Psalm 143:8

If we deposit little into the bank, and withdraw much, life will soon be in the red. That is not only financially true, it is a spiritually true also. I find that to be the case when a good amount of time is spent in the Bible preparing sermons and lessons, while not keeping personal time with God.

Jesus spent long hours and nights alone in prayer with his Father. We all need this discipline. E. Stanley Jones wrote, “I am better or worse as I pray more or less.”

The young Christian couple decided that they would have a time of devotion and prayer every morning before leaving for work. All was well until the morning they overslept. Frustrated and rushed the husband grabbed his coffee and started out the door. “What about our prayer time?” the wife asked. He answered, “I will pray on the way, God will hear me.” Then with calm wisdom she said, “I know that he will; but will you hear God?”

Someone has written these words, and they are good for every child of God to read: “In the pure, strong hour of the morning, when the soul of the day is at its best, lean upon the windowsill of the Lord and look into his face, and get orders for the day. Then go out into the world with a sense of a hand upon your shoulder and not a chip.”

“Thy first transaction be
With God Himself above;
So shall thy business prosper well,
And all the day be love.”