My first written faith goal was September 9th, 2014. It was simple, I was going to add 5 extra minutes a day to my prayer time. Meaning after I pray, I will then glance at the clock and make sure that I’m taking more time not only to pray but to listen for my heart to be prompted on what to pray about. Below is what I journaled soon after I committed to this 5 extra minutes of prayer a day.

The faith goal that I set was more focused at first on what I thought was attainable for my busy schedule. It sounds so self-centered but true. My faith goal was to add 5 extra minutes to my usual prayer time. Amazing things happened right away. I started to add extra minutes each time I prayed to God. I started to listen and walk with God and talk with Him once again like a true best friend. My discussions with God lead me to read the scriptures more. A hungrier was created in me for His Word. The Lord has often brought scriptures to my remembrance when I needed them and that flow of scriptures has increased. I am more specific with my prayers now. I started praying not only for my extended family but those people around my family. My territory has increased by praying for those all around me like co-workers. I have started to see the difference in the way they treated me and how I treated them. Just saying…it is hard to talk about someone whom you are praying for. I have seen people start to come to the Lord that I didn’t place much hope in. As a result, my faith has increased and I believe stronger than ever in His wanting to work miracles through us as we fully allow His will to become ours. God has patiently waited for us to ask Him unto to our lives. I realized that God had other plans and my relationship with Him feeds on my desire to know Him through His Holy Word. With His guidance, I am realizing what my mission is here. Deception is formed when you have a lack of knowledge. The more I prayed, searched the scriptures and opened myself up to loving and helping others, God’s will for my life helped me to start to surrender my all to Him. I have experienced moments of feeling like a stranger in a foreign land when reading scripture in a new light. I have been impressed by the urgency of the mission placed before us and the reality of the consequences that lay on us for not acting in the best interest of the one we serve. There is a system and order for everything. Jesus even taught us how to pray. To think that it has not even been a week since I set a faith goal and to become awakened and aware how alive Jesus is and how actively He is seeking those who are willing to surrender their lives for the cause, blows my mind. God has taken this 5 extra minutes a day and turned it into my final journey. I have been set on a path following a great light and given the opportunity to put on the full armor of God by the blood of Jesus. Ezekiel’s call and commission is speaking to my life. God told him to eat His word and let it sink into his heart, then listen carefully to the people. Even though some are rebellious, God needs the truth spoken to them whether they listen or not. I will trust in Him for the victory has been won.

Looking back at that first year of my faith goal, I have to admit I had times and circumstances that arose which interrupted my faith goal and that 5 extra minutes just didn’t happen, but what did happen over time my relationship with the LORD began to strengthen and my typical prayers increased as my heartfelt the needs of others. I started to steer clear of gossip and learned to give mercy if I wished to receive it. No longer did I have to look at that clock to squeeze out those extra 5 minutes. I now experienced prayers lasting anywhere from 2-4 hours long. I don’t count my 5 extra minutes a day anymore, I don’t need to because I look forward each day to spending time with my best friend, my Lord, and Savior Jesus Christ. I pray that whatever your faith goal may be, that you experience all that peace, love and joy has to offer on your way to seeking God. Please share your faith goals with me. I would love to hear from you.