“For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen.” Romans 11:36 ESV

In his book, Directions, Jeff Adams says

“Some people have a relationship with Biblical knowledge, their church, or with what they do to serve God, but lack depth in their relationship with God.”

I don’t want to be that kind of person, but I realize that I have a tendency to get into a routine and forget about actively engaging with scripture, especially during my prayer time.

One thing I have decided to do is to meditate and journal through Romans 11:36 each morning. My goal is to write down all that stands out to me as from Him, through Him, and to Him. I don’t have much of a track record for journaling, and I hope this activity will inspire and encourage me to see all the ways God is interacting with me on a day to day basis.

From Him

I write “FROM HIM” in bold letters on the page, and start by thanking him for anything that comes to mind. Then I think through the previous day and write down all the times the Holy Spirit led me to pray for someone. I try to confess all the ways I haven’t acknowledged the things He did, and I even write down the rebukes of the Holy Spirit. All things are from Him, so I remember to thank Him for those things I see as negative, too.

Through Him

As I write about what is “THROUGH HIM”, I make a commitment to see all of the accomplishments from the day before as being done through His power. I thank Him that He worked through me. What an amazing thought! I think about my weight loss goals, my marriage, my work schedule, and anything else I might try to trick myself into believing I can handle on my own. Also, I pray to give my struggles over to God so I am not overwhelmed.

To Him

Remembering that all things are “TO HIM”, I consider all of my activities for the day ahead. I want to “work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men” (Colossians 3:23), so I ask God to keep me from distraction and laziness at the office. I want to share His love with my neighbors and those around me in need, so I ask for wisdom concerning our finances and leisure time. 

Our goal is that God gets the glory forever, right? It’s easy to say, but very difficult to remember in this fast-paced life. Far too often I read scripture without seeking to comprehend anything. I pray in a distracted rush, and only for what I think I need.

Prayer

Lord, forgive me when I neglect Your Word and presence. For from You, through You, and to You are all things. To You be glory forever. Amen.