Last week, I was privileged to share with some high school kids in western Colorado about how to have time with God. One of the themes will be “discipline for a lifetime.” That is, form a discipline when you’re young that will serve you your entire life. The day before we left to drive out there, our daughter Melody and family moved to their new teaching assignment on Grand Cayman Island. Melody posted on Facebook her first morning there:

First morning in our new home. I thought I’d try sitting out on my porch for my quiet time (read my Bible and write in my prayer journal). Well… let’s just say it’s a little distracting out here. [because of the chickens looking for handouts!]

One of Melody’s friends wrote, ” What’s a prayer journal?”

Melody responded:

After I read a chapter or two, I pray and think about which verse or verses are speaking to me most. Then I write them down in my journal, and I write out a prayer. I talk to God about everything, and writing down my prayer kind of helps me to focus. sometimes I go back and read my old journal entries. It’s really cool to look back and see how God was working in my life. I’ve been doing this since I was in high school.

Melody is now 47. Discipline for a lifetime indeed.

My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD; In the morning I will direct it to You, And I will look up. (Psalm 5.3, NKJV)

But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 3.14, 15, NKJV)