Today is April 4.

Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.   
 
Take a moment and quiet yourself. Take a deep breath. Welcome God’s presence. And say, “Come Holy Spirit.”    
   
Today’s reading is from the book of 1 Corinthians, chapter 3.  
 

By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light.  
 

As you come to prayer today, consider Paul’s words about ‘foundations’ and ‘building with care’. Think about how you are ‘building’ your own spiritual life? Paul says that he was a wise builder. He was a careful builder, and intentional builder. Take a moment and think through your own spiritual building. Can you identify places that you are intentionally building your spiritual life? Consider how you are building inwardly in practices of prayer, worship, and reading the Word. Or outwardly in spiritual relationships and service toward others. Where do you feel encouraged by what you are building?   
   
Consider now areas of your spiritual life that feel weak, or in need of repair. Are there spiritual disciplines that you are struggling with? What might it mean to invest more deeply in those areas? Listen to Paul’s words again and consider what it means to build wisely and with good materials. 
   
Sometimes we forget to set spiritual aims for ourselves. We do that in so many other areas: set goals, or targets, and we work toward those things. Is there a person you know who might serve as a model for you of spiritual maturity? Someone about who you think: they seem so much like Jesus!? As we end our time of prayer today, think about some of the qualities you see in them, and imagine those same qualities in yourself. What do you want to look like, to sound like, to be like... ten years from now? Ask the Lord for grace to grow into the person He made you to be.

Lord God, Almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought me in safety to this new day: Preserve me with your mighty power, that I may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all I do, direct me to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  

Music - I Lift My Eyes Up - Vineyard Worship - (YouTube)