Redeeming the time because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:16. What’s the first thing you turn to in the morning? What’s the last thing you turn to before you go to sleep? All too often we are turning to something other than the Lord himself. Consider these verses: Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed" (Mark 1:35); "So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed" (Luke 5:16); "Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God" (Luke 6:12); "Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on a mountain by Himself to pray. And when evening had come, He was alone there" (Matt. 14:22-23); "And it happened, as He was alone praying, that His disciples joined Him, and He asked them, saying, Who do the crowds say that I am?" (Luke 9:18); "And it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings, that He took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray. And as He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening" (Luke 9:28-29); "And it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples" (Luke 11:1); "And coming out, He went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed, and His disciples also followed Him. . . . And He was withdrawn from them about a stone's throw, and He knelt down and prayed" (Luke 22:39, 41).
