Mark 13:23 (AMP) But look to yourselves and be on your guard, I have told you everything beforehand.

"Technology and communication are very popular in our culture. We communicate every day using cell phones, Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram and more. It has become addicting for many of us and it is difficult to try and go any length of time without using some type of communication. It is hard not to pick up our cell phone and send a friend a text, yet few of us take time during the day to speak to God at all." -- DNOW Awake14 Session 2

If we are being honest here, which I always try to be. That quote right there is a big red flashing true statement in some of our lives. 

I've done it. You've done it. We've all done it.

Wake up. Turn alarm off. Check Twitter/Email/Facebook/Instagram and send a "I don't want to wake up" snap chat to somebody. You can tell me its not true, and I will tell you that you are lying. 

I've been there, I've done it. Check out blog posts from the very beginning, I believe I even said that it was the first thing I did in the mornings. Roll over check my notifications. So don't think I am trying to call you out. Y'all, I've been there too. Been on both sides and I am just trying to let you know which side of the fence is greener.

I am sure you have heard it time and time again to have quiet time in the morning. Get into the word. Exchange some words with Jesus before anybody else. And you know what, I firmly believe that some of you do that. BUT not before you get in touch with the world.

By "the world" here I mean that high dollar piece of technology you have glued to your hand. emails, texts, and all the social medias that are at your finger tips. 

I can hear some of you now "well I follow Jesus Calling, or daily bible verse." But hear me out, that still isn't enough.

If you get into the WORD before you get into the WORLD you will be much more on guard for the day.

in Mark 13, Jesus is talking with His disciples about what is to come when He returns. He is telling them what will happen and what they need to be ready for and doing. So verse 23 he tells them to look to yourselves and be on guard [be ready] because He has told them everything beforehand.

That verse in scripture is so applicable to what I am talking about with getting into the word first. 

In Mark 13 Jesus himself is able to talk with the disciples and fill them in on what is to come and what they should do. We don't have that opportunity today to go sit at the feet of Jesus on the Mount of Olives but we have access to His speaking and teachings daily through the Bible. 

If we aren't getting into the Word 1st thing in the morning expecting to meet with Jesus and allowing Him to have undivided attention from us, how can we be on guard throughout the days crazies? The Bible tells us how to handle a multitude of things that occur daily. If we take the time to study and listen to God beforehand [before those things happen] we will be able to be on guard and know what to do when they come about. 

This is a challenge I give to everybody I come in contact with that is looking to revive their walk or just wanting to dig deeper. Get in touch with the Word before you get in touch with the World.

Why?

Promise, if you take time to get up just a little bit earlier and get in touch with The Word first, you will be able to have a heart and mind that processes the days events through God's teachings and mindset. 

selflessness. love. peace. patience. clear mind. steadfastness. righteousness. pure. faithfulness

If you dive head first into the world first thing in the morning, you will have to processes things through the worlds filter.

selfishness. hatred. impatience. frustration. maliciousness. deceit. heartlessness. faithlessness. 

So now is the time for you to choose what you want to do. Which filter you want to process things through. Promise you that the daily crazies will come they are inevitable. No matter what you do they will be part of your day. You just have to make the decision of how you would like to view them and handle them. 

If you are looking through the world's filter, chances are that little wind that ruffles your feathers will turn into a big ole storm quickly. 

Get in The Word first so you can be prepared beforehand, so you can be on guard when that wind comes. 



-B