Although I had been hearing subtle messages that I must make my prayer-time with the Lord my first priority, lately I had been turning on the computer and doing some writing before prayer-time. Today I was going to be called on the carpet and, hopefully, permanently reminded just how important it was to put God first.

It was the Lord's Day, Sunday. I got up, dressed, washed, brushed my teeth, then went out to get my daughter up for her brief move to our bed in the back. The dog went, too, as usual. I turned on the computer. Turned to some writing I had been doing and began to edit it. The time flew. It was nearly 7:00 AM. "Wow," I thought, "it is going to be tough to try and get the two hours in before the family gets up." But, I sat on the couch and began my prayer time. About 45 minutes into the prayer time, I decided I might like to break it up and finish the prayer-time later in the day. I asked God in my usual way and He said No. Okay, I submitted. I asked Him if I could ask Him periodically if it would be okay to break up the prayer-time. He said Yes.

I prayed some more. I was getting a little fidgety, though, because I could hear stirring in the back. I had been told before that, though I am completely supported by the family for my prayer times, they really don't like to be trapped in the back of the RV for excessive periods of time. "Please, God," I prayed, "allow me to finish this special time with you later." No, He said. It was 8:45 AM.

I prayed on, but was very restless. It was 8:55 AM and we were going to church very shortly. The family needed to be able to get up. I had five minutes to go. Please, God, may I finish this last five minutes later? No, He said. I got up and went to the back where my wife was waiting for me to finish, and told her God wouldn't let me stop this morning. She became infused with the Holy Spirit (but I didn't recognize Him at this time) and let me have it verbally for not getting my prayer-time done first, before I wrote or did other things on the computer. I was indignant. Here I am, praying for my family, and I get treated like this? My feelings were hurt. And so were hers because of my attitude.

I went back to my couch and finished my five minutes with the Lord (though I certainly couldn't give Him my all considering the circumstances). Finally I was done! We ate, got ready for church and drove to God's house. Sitting in the pew, I began to be ministered to by God. The meaning of the morning was revealed to me. It was all a setup.

Nature of God: It is more than just important that God be first. It is absolutely imperative! I had not had that point driven home before. My wife had tried to tell me subtly that it would be a good idea to pray first, then write. I had tried that for a short while, but then had lapsed back into my old habit patterns. I wouldn't forget it this time. Usually God allowed me the opportunity to split my prayer-time but this morning was different. I had deliberately made Him my second choice and had spent a lot of time on my writing project. He would have none of that.

He allowed me to ask Him as often as I wanted to if I could break up the prayer-time. But no matter how many times I asked, He always said No. (It remains uncanny to me how God can control the flipping of a coin and make it come out the way He wants it to every time). He was making a point, though, and He was going to throw me into the fire today to help me remember. He made me pray all the way up until my 9:00 AM stopping time and had me confront my wife, who, listening to God's Holy Spirit, correctly and righteously came down on my decision to write first this morning. I was emotionally bruised, but at church, reviewed my morning choice to put God second. It was time for me to get my priorities straight, I realized. I explained to Eva, after the church service, what God had done (through her), and saw a grateful look in her eyes. I apologized for not taking her absolutely correct counsel very well. She forgave me and, to my relief, God has forgiven me as well.

Please take God's advice to me. Remember, God is first. Our own will must not be our priority. I believe this to be so important, that I am making this the last story I tell in this book. We are a stiff-necked people. We frequently don't get it, when God tells us what to do. Before you read my concluding chapters of this book, remember and apply this truth:

Always put God first!