This week, our pastor challenged us to spend an hour a day in prayer and study of God's word.  I must admit, I probably only spend about an hour a week studying the scriptures, and I am one of those pray-on-the-fly kind of people, so I have no idea how much time I spend in prayer.  I eagerly accepted the challenge, in front of my peers, my pastor, and...my enemy, the devil.

I don't know why I had to start this adventure on the same weekend as daylight savings time.  And, as with all of the other times that I have endeavored to improve my connection with God, I have found this to be a difficult challenge.  The first day went fine.  But by the second day, Satan had devised plenty of schemes to keep me from my plan.  I was too tired in the morning, so I only got in 12 minutes of Bible study, as I hurried to get myself and my family ready for work and school.  I figured I could get the rest in on my lunch break and after work.  Then, work was so busy that I didn't get a break.  (another lost opportunity).  I worked late, and had to go shopping.  I got home just in time to begin making dinner.  Then, before I knew it, it was bedtime.  I managed to squeek in a little time as dinner was cooking, but I didn't make the hour goal that had been set.

At this point, as with any goal, I have two options:  to keep trying, or to give up.  Satan has had my entire lifetime to study me, and he knows exactly what it takes to make me fail, and he has vested interest in making me fail at spiritual growth above all else.  He can either make the situation seem hopeless, so that I can quit, or he can make me focus so hard on meeting the time goal, that I lose focus on the real issue, spending time in the word and building a stronger relationship with God. 

So, I have set out to continue to meet the goal of one hour a day.  But, I will not lose site of the most important fact:  God is more interested in the quality of the time I spend with him than the quantity.  He will bless every effort that I make, and then some.  So, I am thankful for the time that I did spend, the lessons that I did learn, and the opportunity to meet with Him again, day after day, moment by moment, from now into eternity.  And I will make every moment count!