"Of First Importance"

Are you an individual who likes the idea of journaling, of having hours to spend in meditation, reading and prayer? However, although the idea is nice, you just don't see it as possible with your hectic schedule... The desired three hours has to be squeezed into five minutes, and the pouring over a book ends up being two pages skimmed prior to crashing for the night. Is that you? If you are anything like me, time for quiet devotion is a daily struggle. I want to have at least an hour before the day begins, but I so often give in to my sleepy self and I confess that I have not committed to such a spiritual discipline in quite some time. However, I have discovered what originally seemed like a very minor, small help. This little help was found while browsing one evening, and it has truly spurred me on each morning. Even if I don't get that desired time prior to the start of the day's routine (still confessing that I need to do so!), something like this can at least shape my thinking and motivation for the hours ahead.
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The site is entitled Of First Importance and provides daily quotes from great men of faith, some current and some whom we recognize as the great Church fathers who have gone before us. Not only does it provide the quote and name of the individual, but also provides a link to the source (great idea if you are in need of solid, Christ-exalting, Scripture-saturated reading material). The site gives you the option of having them emailed which is why I'm able to read a new one at the start of each day. Here is just a sampling of some of the quotes thus far:

“The majesty of God’s forgiveness is lost entirely when we lose what has to be forgiven. What has to be forgiven is not just what we do but who we are, not just our sinning but our sinfulness, not just our choices but what we have chosen in place of God. . . . When we miss the biblical teaching, we also miss the nature of God’s grace in all its height and depth. In biblical faith it is God’s grace through Christ that does for us what we cannot do for ourselves.” ~ David F. Wells

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“The message of the gospel is that you are saved by grace through Christ’s work and nothing else at all. As soon as you add anything to it, you have lost it entirely.” ~ Timothy Keller

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“The difference between a Christian and a non-Christian: when a non-Christian is convicted of sin, he sides with his sin. When a Christian is convicted of sin, he sides with God, against himself.” ~ Mark Dever

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Are you in need of spurring on at the start of the day? Are you searching for solid, biblical reading material? Are you in need of something to help start you off in establishing and making spiritual discipline a priority? This is just one example of the fact that you are not alone. If you don't even know where to begin, here is one simple resource that can be of great encouragement.