Read Matthew 4:1-11
When Jesus was tempted, he responded with a reflex action he spoke the Scripture.
Now note that it wasnt just a matter of Jesus quoting Bible verses at Satan.
He responded with the living Word of God. As you spend regular time with the
Lord each day, the Holy Spirit will help you develop the same kind of reflex action.
When you face temptation or trouble or trial, your response will be the Word
of God both spoken and lived. But there is a basic principle that is important to
understand: Devotional reflexes come from devotional discipline. As you develop
a regular habit of spending time with the Lord, you will find that your response to
life will automatically come out of your devotional storehouse.
Read Isaiah 30:15
The time you spend with the Lord in the morning sets the pace for the rest of the
day. And the focus of your morning appointment with the Lord should particularly
focus on a quietness of soul before the Lord. This is why some Christians call
their morning devotions their quiet time.
We live in a world of high stress. Many voices demand your attention. And so it is
vital to have a time where you shut out the worlds noise and just focus on your
relationship with the Lord.
As Francis of Sales put it:
Half an hours listening is essential except when you are very busy. Then a
full hour is needed.
Psalm 130
A song of ascents.
1 Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord;
2 Lord, hear my voice.
Let your ears be attentive
to my cry for mercy.
3 If you, Lord, kept a record of sins,
Lord, who could stand?
4 But with you there is forgiveness,
so that we can, with reverence, serve you.
5 I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits,
and in his word I put my hope.
6 I wait for the Lord
more than watchmen wait for the morning,
more than watchmen wait for the morning.
7 Israel, put your hope in the Lord,
for with the Lord is unfailing love
and with him is full redemption.
8 He himself will redeem Israel
from all their sins.
Psalm 131
A song of ascents. Of David.
1 My heart is not proud, Lord,
my eyes are not haughty;
I do not concern myself with great matters
or things too wonderful for me.
2 But I have calmed and quieted myself,
I am like a weaned child with its mother;
like a weaned child I am content.
3 Israel, put your hope in the Lord
both now and forevermore.
Isaiah 30:15
15 This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says:
“In repentance and rest is your salvation,
in quietness and trust is your strength,
but you would have none of it.