Starting the Day

Over the years, I have received various questions about how I go about devotions or the order of my day, especially as it relates to being a pastor. Spending time with God in solitude and the Word is a high priority for the pastor and indeed for every believer. It is the source of power and personal holiness that is simply indispensible for daily living. Yet, daily communion with God is a struggle. I would not be honest if I did not admit that it is something that goes against the natural grain of our hearts. We are prone to being lazy and putting things off, even when we know them to be good and beneficial. Paul likened our spiritual growth to physical exercise, which by the way is something also struggle with and by analogy we find ourselves rather flabby and out of breath when it comes to physical exertion. Our souls need daily exercise if we would want to run and walk with Christ in true fellowship.
There is a great benefit given to pastors who are called in their vocation to spend time in prayer and the Word as a part of their daily work. Something that is neglected by many and often forgotten by church members is that ministers of the Gospel are not busy “shop keepers” maintaining the life of the church, but men who seek to be holy, finding in Christ the resources to bring the healing power of God’s Word to the people he is called to serve. There is too much work that needs to be done, too many people to minister to, and meetings to attend, to neglect the very heart of ministry.
About 15 years ago, the Lord impressed upon me the need to prioritize this truth in my life through daily solitude and prayer in the morning. I began to make it my practice to spend about 1 hour in prayer and Bible reading in the mornings. It was the outworking of a spiritual renewal that radically changed my idea of ministry. At first these morning prayer times were eagerly begun and one hour would turn to two in the sweet fellowship with God. Later, I found that even when I did not feel like opening the Bible, or that other things seemed too pressing, I committed to making this morning routine a priority, regardless of feelings. I felt a greater need to “be with God, before I could be with people.”
Here’s what I do just to give you a glimpse into a day of the life of your pastor (as it begins).
I typically get up around 5:30 am. I want the house to be quiet.
1. The Bible before Breakfast. Several years ago I heard Richard Bewes (John Stott’s successor)say this was his motto for morning devotions. I took it as my own and find that spending time with God before I eat something makes me put into practice the truth that “man does not live by bread alone, but by the Word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.” I do however make a cup of tea and then open the Scriptures.
2. I usually use a Bible Reading plan or a book at a time. I read the Bible devotionally, that is, I spend time lingering on certain passages, re-reading them, and meditating on it and praying them. The point is to let the Bible speak so that one hears God speaking a needful and appropriate word. This will often lead to further study in a more formal way during the day or I mark it for later study. Too often, people jump into the “find the point of doctrine to discuss or debate” mode rather than tasting the sweetness of the honeycomb and finding personal refreshment. I love doctrine and theology, but I make notes on what to delve into later. I often find sermon material during the time I spend in the Word in the morning, after it has stirred in my heart for months. For example, I spent devotional time in John’s Gospel over a year ago, meditating and praying through it before it became a sermon series this year. When I preach the text on Sunday mornings, it first resonated in my heart months ago.
3. Don’t rush Bible Reading. David knew the importance of meditating upon God’s Word. It is a neglected practice today. Put this first – your time in the Bible and then proceed with a devotional book or something like “Table Talk”. Start with 15 minutes and then build on this.
4. My devotional helps come in the form of Spurgeon’s “Morning and Evening”, Andrew Murray’s books, or sermons by Robert McCheynne. Prayer books like “The Valley of Vision” or the Book of Common Prayer aid me in priming the pump for personal prayer.
5. I follow my Bible time with prayer. I use a prayer list that I keep in the Bible. This helps me to remember people I’ve told I would be praying for and those I’ve added on my list over the years. I group it in areas like, family- Mary and the girls; extended family, praying for the lost and then personal intercession for church members, missionaries and so on.

An hour will go quickly and often runs into 2 hours. I don’t say this to boast, but to be descriptive of something that I find essential to my ministry. When I arrive at my office in the church, then my duties of the day take over and ministry is busy at times. But, the day began in quiet and solitude with the Father and it makes my ministry the rest of the day possible.