Today’s Key Scripture

“‘Return to Me, and I will return to you,’ says the Lord of hosts.”

— Malachi 3:7

Once, when the stress of administering a large ministry seemed overwhelming to me and I was caught up in all the details that I needed to do, I fell asleep from sheer exhaustion and had a dream. I saw Jesus walking, and a large crowd was following Him. Then I heard His voice calling to me. He said, “Benny, you have some catching up to do.” I saw myself running, getting closer to Jesus.

When I awoke I said, “Lord, what does that mean?” God spoke to me and said, Get back to your calling. Get back to prayer.

That morning, I reaffirmed my commitment to obey God’s mandate on my life: to take the message of God’s saving and healing power to the world. I promised the Lord that I wouldn’t let the details of the ministry distract me and keep me from doing what He had called me to do. And I have been faithful to that commitment.

As Paul the apostle said, we must be “redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:16).

Have you spent time with Jesus today, or is there a need for some catching up? If you have not been in His presence lately, hear His voice saying, Return to Me!

 

A Prayer for Today

Precious Lord, show me anything in my life that is holding me back from an intimate, personal communion with You. I want more of You today. I desire to be used in Your service to reach others. May every stronghold of the Enemy that seeks to enslave and destroy be barricaded from the unsaved. I thank You for every door that You are opening, and I surrender myself to You, even as I desire to become closer with You every day. I pray that the harvest fields will be filled with people of all ages and cultures who feel Your Holy Spirit drawing them to you. Return me to my highest calling. I pray all this in the name of Jesus, amen.

 

*All Scripture references are NKJV unless otherwise noted.

 

Coming Next Month

 

God’s Word says we are to pray without ceasing. We are to be immersed in His presence. Clearly, He wants us to stay in continual interaction and intimate communication with Him throughout our days. He wants to be invited into every moment of every day and be glorified in our every thought.

But how is that possible in today’s fast-paced world?

In May, Good Morning, Holy Spirit, Daily Devotionals will spotlight how to establish constant contact with God in a way that is pleasing to Him and life-changing for you.