“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Matthew 7:13-14.
Following Jesus’ lifestyle is the small gate and narrow road.
It was Jesus’s custom to begin his day with his father. First thing early in the morning Jesus would spend time alone with God before anything else. Given the fact that Jesus was both God, but fully human as well, we see his humanity here–His desperation for time to be alone with God…to begin His day with his head on right, his heart connected, and his vision clear.
I have internalized this aspect of Jesus’s lifestyle and made it mine. I’ve broken it down into four different components of a morning quiet time that I call my Core Four.
READ I read the inspired Word of God every morning. Sometimes I’ll read two or three chapters in the Bible. Sometimes, I’ll read Psalm 23 over and over and over for about 5 or 10 minutes, allowing the truth to soak into my soul.
RECORD Keeping a journal and making notes about my spiritual progress or the things that are important is absolutely essential. It helps me remember who I am and where I’m going.
REFLECT I reflect on what is true, noble, righteous, and worthy of praise. I reflect on my worldview that says there is both good and evil, and that there’s a violent spiritual war–a battle for the human heart that’s going on right now as I write and you read. I reflect it on the presence of God’s Holy Spirit living inside of me–that I am not alone. I talk to God about what I’m concerned about and what He’s concerned about.
REVIEW I review with God the things that are on my plate, the things that I need to take care of, the tasks that I’m going to do today. I ask him to guide me and lead me in selecting what I need to be doing.
This process is done in a spirit of prayer and listening… and it’s essential and non-negotiable for me. You will find it essential too.
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Begin today. Enter by the narrow gate. Get alone with God and do the Core Four today and then again tomorrow. You can build a new habit starting today.