I rise before dawn and cry out for help; I put my hope in your word. —Psalm 119:147
The essence of Satan’s deception is that we can live our lives independently of God. He doesn’t care if we believe in God or fill our schedules with spiritual activities—if he can get us to run on our own steam rather than living in conscious dependence on the power of the Holy Spirit.
Too often I turn my attention to the day’s tasks without first taking time to look to God. What I’m really saying is that I can handle this day on my own. I can do my work, handle my relationships, and deal with my circumstances just fine. I don’t really need Him.
Sometimes I sense Him saying, “You want to manage this day yourself? Go ahead!” Then I ultimately end up having nothing of real value to show after a day spent making my own decisions and operating in my own strength.
Only by humbling ourselves and acknowledging that we cannot make it without Him can we count on His divine enabling to carry us through the day.
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The Quiet Place: Daily Devotional Readings ©2012 Nancy Leigh DeMoss
Scripture taken from The CSB
Make it Personal
How does your morning typically start? What does your routine say about whether your confidence is in the Lord or in yourself?