MORNING SACRIFICES
Today's reading: Job 1-2

"When these celebrations ended--and sometimes they lasted several days--Job would purify his children. He would get up early in the morning and offer a burnt sacrifice for each of them. For Job said to himself, Perhaps my children have sinned and have cursed God in their hearts. This was Job's regular practice." Job 1:5 NLT

What a privilege to realize some of the folks I pray for each morning would have no one else praying for them if I weren't up bright and early and spending time in my prayer chair.

And I'm not saying that to boast--not at all!

I'm saying that because the realization of the 'sacrifice' of any time spent in God's presence has hit me full-force this morning.

When I give up the comforts of the warm, cozy bed in an effort to spend time with my Creator...

When I choose to leave the TV off and the Facebook un-scanned while I dig into Scripture...

When I select an appointed time each and every day, before the hub-bub of the day begins, to call on my Savior...

When I put aside the day's list of distractions and to-do's in an effort to center my focus on the importance of relationship with my Friend...

When I move my morning with my Lord earlier and earlier into the day in an effort to make sure I'm starting off on the right foot, in the right frame of mind, with the right tools in my arsenal, with the right 'food' in my belly...

When I choose the discipline of obedience over the self-centered ways that come so very naturally to me...

God accepts my sacrifices.

God accepts my sacrifices!