Carter Conlon | Daily Devotionals

We must desire a genuine relationship with the Son of God and not just empty religion. We should desire to hear God when we pray and want to see Him throughout our day. Before we sleep, we should want to speak His name as the last thing on our lips. 

Ask God to help you not settle for an empty religion and to guide you back into a deep relationship with Christ. Let's commit today to seeking a living relationship with Jesus, prioritizing prayer, reading the Bible, and seeking fellowship with other solid believers. It's time for us to go back to our first love. 

Join us every Wednesday at 7:00 PM EST at itstimetopray.org, where people from up to 211 countries and dependencies get together in real time. We're asking God to touch us again and make us a living testimony one more time in our generation.  

It's time to pray.

Revelation 2:2–5 says, “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.”

This warning was severe. People had forgotten the essence of their relationship with God. Don't ever become fixated on religious works. If you feel like you've lost Jesus, remember that He has never left you or forsaken you. 

It's time to turn around, go back, and reclaim your first love again.

It's time to pray.

Ephesians 4:11–12 says, “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.”

At our Bible school, Summit International School of Ministry, everyday believers are ministers. We define ministry as simply living for the benefit of others. If Christ lives in you, you are in ministry. You don't need a title to do ministry. You don't have to be perfect or have it all together. 

You just need Jesus and a reliance on His Holy Spirit. God will back people who open their mouths and are willing to be a witness for Him. Trust that God will lead you to the souls needing His good news and minister to them through you. 

It's time to pray.

Revelation 2:2–5 says, “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.”

This warning in scripture was severe. The people forgot the essence of their relationship with the Lord. Don't ever become fixated on religious works! If you feel like you've lost Jesus, remember that He has never left you or forsaken you. 

It's time to turn around; it's time to go back. It's time to reclaim your first love again. 

It's time to pray.

The book of 1 Corinthians 1 tells us that God chooses the weak and the nobodies and the nothings and the weak of this world. He transforms us, gives us power over our fears, and sends us a message of redemption. The power of Hell was destroyed when Jesus Christ rose from the dead. 

The good news is that the Devil cannot hold you anymore. Your freedom begins the moment you believe. Despite challenging circumstances and strong addictions, God declares that you will be set free. Choose to believe Him and surrender your life to Jesus Christ. Believe and step out into your freedom today. 

Join us every Wednesday at 7:00 PM EST at itstimetopray.org. People from all over the world believe that we will be set free from every captivity. 

My brother, my sister, it's time to pray.

Psalm 119:126 says, “It is time for You to act, O Lord, For they have regarded Your law as void.”

We live in a generation that has rejected Jesus and is attempting to push God out of every facet of our society. Evil is now celebrated, and good is being criticized. We need God to intervene. Only He can work through His people in the church and bring about change. God is already answering our prayers, even when we don't see it. Let's seek His guidance and embody His love and truth. Trust that God is at work, and let's remain faithful to Him in seeking His will for our lives. 

Join us every Wednesday at 7:00 PM EST at itstimetopray.org. We pray with people worldwide: “God, let your glory come one more time and reveal your will to each of us.” 

It's time to pray.

Matthew 7:7–11 says, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”

God gives us whatever we need to fulfill His calling to become all He has destined for us. I encourage you to go to Him with confidence. 

Don't overcomplicate prayer. Simply ask your Father, and do what He says. Ask, seek, knock. Say, “Jesus, I want to be everything you want me to be.” 

It's time for us to pray.

Luke 11:5–8 says, “Then Jesus said to them, ‘Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, “Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.” And suppose the one inside answers, “Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.” I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.’”

If ever there was a time to ask for God's provision, it's now. Let's ask God to give us compassion, conviction, courage, and the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Just as the persistent friend received what he needed, we can have confidence that when we call out a knock on the door of Heaven, God will answer our prayers. 

It's time to pray.

In Matthew 5:13–14, Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.”

There's a call on our lives to be fishers of men and followers of Jesus. By that high calling, we become leaders. Jesus said that we are the salt and the light in this world. He gives us the power to have an impact and influence and a testimony to be inspirational. 

People should be able to see God's power in their lives and be inspired to break free from their places of captivity as He leads us into victory. May we have the incredible privilege of leading others there. 

It's time to pray.

Psalm 71:16–18 says, “I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, Sovereign Lord; I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone. Since my youth, God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds. Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come.”

Let's keep moving in God's strength until we've shown the next generation who He is. God’s power lets us be a demonstration through a surrendered life of who He is. Our faith should not stand in the wisdom of man but in the power of our Lord. 

Let's talk about our weaknesses so that God's strength might be made known through us. It's not going to be about us; it's going to be about the strength of the Lord Jesus Christ within each of our lives. How do I know? Because that's the way I've learned to live as I've gotten older.

It's time to pray.