Diana LéGere
1. Quiet Your Mind
Carve out a special prayer nook for yourself―a place where you will meet God every day. Before you can prepare your heart, it’s essential to step away from the noise and empty your mind of earthly cares. Block out any distractions that will keep you from focusing on God. Jesus taught us that the best time to start our day is in the morning before the world unfolds.
“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” )Mark 1:35(
As you enter this holy ground, relax, breathe deeply. Step into the present moment. Imagine you are entering a safe place with the One who provides, protects, and takes pleasure in spending time with you. Ease yourself into a total state of surrender. Expect to meet God in this space.
2. Pray in Humility
Humility is where we meet ourselves. When the mask is removed, we are face-to-face with who we really are.
If we are going to worship God with our entire being, we need to be honest before the throne and acknowledge that Jesus is Lord. He’s not our pal. He is the Messiah. When we accept that, we step down into our rightful position.
As we remember who God is, we need to take a serious look at our hearts. Kneeling before Him, ASK Him to reveal your heart. We all have sins that may block our ability to hear from God.
It’s impossible to meet God’s standard. So, as we stand before the redemptive floodlight that puts a spotlight on sin, we can also be assured we are washed clean.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” )1 John 1:9(.
3. Praise Him
Knowing that all fall short when it comes to sin, we would be nowhere without Jesus. His great gift of salvation can be taken for granted when we think we’re doing it all “right” in His eyes. But we never really arrive.
Honest reflection about who Jesus is and what He has done for us personally opens our hearts for compassion and forgiveness towards others. With a clean heart, we magnify God and invite him in. Praise is powerful.
)Psalm 22:3( (KJV) says that God inhabits the praise of His people. Jesus praised His father. If Jesus could praise during the suffering and persecution He endured, indeed, we can and should glorify God. He is worthy of our praise (Psalm 150:2).
4. Be Still
The Scriptures tell us we need to be still before God and wait patiently for Him to respond (Psalm 37:7). It is in the still moments that we hear from God. He is there to guide us and help us see where we have missed the mark (Job 6:24).
It is also in these quiet moments that God can reassure us He is in charge. Whatever storms we face, only Jesus can calm the storm (Mark 4:35-41).
In faith, we enter the stillness. It is in the silence of God’s presence that peace is profound. As we draw near God, we believe He exists, and He promises to reward those who seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).
