The year after I graduated from college, I decided to begin the year with an hour of prayer every morning through Easter. I got up earlier every day so that I could spend those first minutes with God, and while I am not a morning person, it was a wonderful time that I relished, and I believe that it helped to deliver me from a spirit of depression that I had battled most of my life.
Mark 1:35 New American Standard Bible 1995
In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got
up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was
praying there.
Leviticus 2:12 New American Standard Bible 1995
As an offering of first fruits you shall bring them to
the Lord, but they shall not ascend for a soothing aroma on the altar.
As part of their sacrificial system, the Israelites were to bring the first
fruits, or the very first part of their harvest whatever it may be, to God.
This is quite possibly why Abel’s sacrifice was accepted and Cain’s was
rejected. When tithing, it is important to write that check first. Jesus saw
the importance of spending time with God regularly and promptly. It makes a
great start to the day to begin it with Him. It not only helps to start the day
off right, but I believe that it puts a sort of blessing on the day if we
willing devote that first part to God as an offering of first fruits. As
evidence in my experience with prayer, amazing things happen when we give God
the first part of what we get.
For the next week, spend the first 30 minutes in prayer. Get up earlier if you need to. Give God your first fruits and see what blessings flow from it.
Prayer points taken from Praying Through Adversity by Jennifer Kennedy Dean.
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