What are some of my excuses?

This morning was a little easier to find some alone time with God. I believe it was easier because I prayed for strength to overcome my pitiful excuses! I prayed that I would make myself stop what I was doing and study the word of God.

I was thinking about all the excuses I use. Here they are:

1.laziness
2.busyness
3.too much pride
4.too much sin
5.procrastinating (I am really bad about putting it off!)

I relate myself to Martha in Luke 10:38-42.

"Mary and Martha both loved Jesus. On this occasion they were both serving him. But Martha thought Mary's style of serving was inferior to hers. She didn't realize that in her desire to serve, she was actually neglecting her guest. Are you so busy doing things for Jesus that you're not spending any time with him? Don't let your service become self-serving. Jesus did not blame Martha for being concerned about household chores. He was only asking her to set priorities. Service to Christ can degenerate into mere busywork that is no longer full of devotion to God." (Life Application Study Bible, NIV)

Verse 40 definitely hit home for me~"But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made."

I pray today that I will put my distractions behind me and admit my reasons/failure to pray.

What excuses have you been using for neglecting to pray?

I want to take the desire I have in my heart and apply it every day. My New Year's Resolution is to seek God every morning before I start my day!

Here are some good scripture verses relating to today's post....

"And pray in the Spirit on all occasioins with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints." Ephesians 6:18

"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." Colossians 4:2

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18)

I am not a fan of English, so please overlook grammatical errors....

I decided to start this blog for many reasons. I would like to hold myself accountable as if having a prayer partner or an accountability partner. I have not had a prayer partner since my freshman year in college! I hope by having a blog it will help me to stay on track with my alone time with God as well as share my feelings. I would like to use this as a journal to see what God is doing in my life and what plans he has in store for me.

I would love to have suggestions on great devotional books, bible studies, authors, musicians, as well as create a prayer list for friends & family needing prayers...The good Lord knows I need all the prayers I can get!

Where it begins...

I am at a point in my life where I desperately need to be closer to God. I looked at my New Year's Resolutions from 2009. My top priority was to pray more and establish a routine by praying each day and to be more "CHRIST-like". Why is it so hard to pray? Each morning I am faced with many things I so call "need" to do....start the washer, make breakfast, take a shower, pick up belongings, wash dishes, take care of a child, etc.

Why can I not just drop everything and seek the Lord? Why is it so hard? Then, after I have everything completed I am out of time to open the Bible or even pray. At least, that is what I tell myself. I make excuses or make other arrangements to pray...pray on the way to work, pray when I get to work, pray in the bathroom as I am getting ready...but it never works. My excuses are just excuses!!

I am ready to change. I am ready to start this new year by changing my ways. I read my Bible this morning and it was such a GREAT feeling! I prayed and let God know my praises, concerns, & requests. If it is a good feeling, why do I have such a hard time making time for God?

I would love to get advice, wisdom, & understanding from any of you reading this blog. I look forward to sharing with you my thoughts and prayers as the new year approaches!

Here are some scripture verses I came across this morning...

"As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God...My soul thirsts for you; my body longs for you" (Psalm 42:1)

"Lord, teach us to pray" (Luke 11:1)

"...You should always pray and not give up!" (Luke 18:1)

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." (Romans 12:12)