Category: Encouragement

Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.
‭‭Mark‬ ‭1‬:‭35‬

Question
What would change if prayer became your first priority for the day?

Context
Mark chapter 1 records an intense season in Jesus’ ministry. He had just taught in the synagogue, cast out demons, healed the sick, and spent the evening serving crowds who pressed in on Him. Humanly speaking, Jesus had every reason to sleep in. Instead, He withdrew to pray.

Rising early and seeking a quiet place was not a ritual, it was a priority. Jesus did not pray because He was weak; He prayed because He depended fully on the Father. Prayer grounded Him, clarified His mission, and aligned His heart with God’s will.

Application
If anyone ever had a reason to skip prayer, it was Jesus. Yet before the next wave of ministry, He chose solitude over applause and prayer over productivity. Jesus understood something we often forget: intimacy with the Father must be a priority.

We often wait to pray until we feel overwhelmed. Jesus prayed before the demands of the day could shape His direction. In the stillness of the early morning, He received strength, wisdom, and focus.

Consider how you begin your day. Before emails, obligations, and conversations begin, make time to be alone with God. The goal is not perfection but priority. A few minutes in God’s presence can redirect an entire day.

Truth For The Day
Prayer is not what we do after the work, it is what prepares us for the work.

Pray
Lord, teach me to seek You before I seek solutions. Help me to value time with You above the noise and demands of life. Align my heart with Your will as I begin each day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Commit your works to the Lord, And your thoughts will be established.
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭16‬:‭3‬

Question
What are you holding onto that you need to fully commit to the Lord today?

Context
Proverbs is filled with wisdom for everyday life, reminding us that true success is found in surrender to God. This verse does not say not to make plans, but it does teach us who should be at the center of them. When our work is committed to the Lord, He aligns our steps with His purpose.

Application
At the beginning of each year we often make new plans, goals, and expectations. By mid January, those plans may already feel heavy. God does not ask you to carry the future alone. He invites you to place your work, responsibilities, and dreams into His hands. When you do, He brings clarity, stability, and direction. This Proverb advises us to offer our plans to God before we pursue them. And by doing so, we can confidently ask God to shape our goals and bless them.

Truth For The Day
When your plans are surrendered to God, your steps are guided by Him.

Pray
Lord, I commit my work, my plans, and this new year to You. Order my steps and establish what brings You glory. Help me trust You with both the process and the outcome. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
‭‭II Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭17‬

Question
What part of your life do you need to fully surrender to Christ as you begin this year?

Context
Paul writes to the Corinthian church to remind believers that salvation in Christ is not merely a change of behavior but a complete transformation of identity. Life in Christ marks a decisive break from the old life and ushers believers into a new reality shaped by grace, reconciliation, and purpose.

Application
January 1 carries the weight of fresh starts. We turn calendars, make resolutions, and hope this year will be different. Yet true renewal does not come from stronger willpower or better plans, it comes from being in Christ. The promise of Scripture is not that the year will be easy, but that you are made new. God is not bound by yesterday’s failures or last year’s disappointments. In Christ, the past no longer defines you; God’s grace does.

As this new year begins, remember: God is not asking you to reinvent yourself, He is inviting you to walk in the new life He has already given.

Truth For The Day
A new year is meaningful because God specializes in making people new.

Pray
Lord, thank You for new beginnings. I lay down the weight of the past and step into the grace You offer today. Help me walk in the new life You’ve given me and trust You with every step of this year. In Jesus’ name, amen.