Matthew 5 v 1-13

“How happy are those who know their need for God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs!” (Matthew 5 v 3). The reason why the principle of humility is presented first is because unless we come to grips with this then the others are beyond our reach.

From there I go to the fourth law of the kingdom, which is this: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” (v 6).

The message contained in this statement is that each one of us needs to have a healthy spiritual appetite for the things of God, which is developed through prayer, reading His Word, and living by the principles of His Kingdom.

One of the very first symptoms of spiritual ill health is avoidance of our daily Quiet Time and study of the Bible - things which are vital to our spiritual growth and development. When our relationship with God through prayer and the reading of His Word is intact then every other relationship is affected by it. I know of nothing that cultivates a spiritual appetite more than spending the first minutes of the day with God in prayer and in the study of the Scriptures. When I have a Quiet Time then I experience a quiet heart, but when my Quiet Time goes then my quiet heart goes with it.

Some Christians struggle with this matter because although they know a daily Quiet Time is essential for their spiritual development, they lack the will-power to make time for it. It’s rather like someone rapidly losing weight because of the lack of appetite and being unable to remedy the situation because they just do not feel like eating. Doing what is necessary, even though you don’t feel like it, is important not only to physical health but to our spiritual health also. Sometimes people say to me, “But I don’t feel like praying or reading my Bible every day.” My advice to such people is this: do it anyway. It may seem mechanical, but as you persist you will find it becoming medicinal.”

Prayer:

Father, forgive me if I skimp the time I need to spend alone with You. Help me be a more disciplined and dedicated person. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.