This lesson is a banner lesson. It reveals the basis for being able to succeed in all the other lessons.

On 5-22-23 (click to go there), I listed ten things I want graduating seniors to know. Here are the first three:

1. What we do with our bodies matters.
2. What we put in our bodies matters.
3. What we put in our minds matters.

Today, we look at number 4,

Daily prayer and Scripture reading are ultra important
to keep your relationship with the Lord fresh.

Because our relationship is based upon faith, there are things that we can do to build our faith and give Him avenues to communicate with us. We can’t see Him, but we know He’s there because He has placed His love in our hearts. Here are some verses to help us:

It’s not what we have done, but what He has done- God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Romans 5:5

More than a feeling, it’s an experience- ⁸ You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. ⁹ The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 8-9

Conversation with the Lord never has to stop- Pray without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians 5:17

We can know truth because God has given us His Word–literally! Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. ¹² As a result, many of them believed. Acts 17:11-12

The Spirit energizes us to serve the Lord Jesus- For it is [not your strength, but it is] God who is effectively at work in you, both to will and to work [that is, strengthening, energizing, and creating in you the longing {desire} and the ability {power} to fulfill your purpose] for His good pleasure. Philippians 2:13 AMP

Even our zeal comes from Him, and He works through us for His glory– never lagging behind in diligence; aglow in the Spirit, enthusiastically serving the Lord; Romans 12:11 AMP

Followers of Christ make these things a priority in their lives. If you have lost some of your spiritual zeal, it may be because there is something in your life that has distracted you and you no longer have your eyes fixed on Jesus. Remember that His conviction is always specific and encouraging, never shaming or condemning, and make time to pray, asking God to reveal the distraction to you, and then give it to Him, trusting His promise that He will empower you to remove the distraction from your life. I know: Easy to say, hard to do. It takes effort and practice, but it’s the effort and practice that builds your relationship with Jesus! The more we go to Him and the harder we lean on Him, the more He shows Himself mighty in our lives. Our fellowship is sweet, and we are filled with “a glorious, inexpressible joy.”

Never give up. When we feel we are at our end, we are exactly where we need to be learn how to trust Jesus. He’s been waiting!

Abba, I know this routine very well! You have allowed me to go my own way, only to find that my way doesn’t work. I lose the closeness of our fellowship, I can’t feel Your love as well, my peace disappears, and my joy is tainted by worldly pleasures. I want to walk close to You, enjoying the waterfall of Your grace, and experiencing once again Your love, peace, joy, and the closeness that I know is available when I keep my eyes trained on You. One day at a time, Lord. Amen.