One of the most important lessons I've learned in 36 years of marriage, 30 years in banking (reaching executive management) and eight years as a CEO of a major non-profit is how critical it is to live out your day from a time with God each morning.

We're created for a relationship with God and, through faith in Jesus Christ, we have the amazing privilege of spending one-on-one time with the creator of the universe. There are so many benefits from spending time with God—renewed love in your heart, an eternal perspective from which to make wise decisions, a sense of joy and peace, to name but a few.

And yet, it's so easy to allow the pressures and distractions of life to crowd out the most important relationship we have—the one from which everything else flows.

I've learned the greatest courage I need in my life is the courage to seek God's face—whatever I'm up against. Whether it's a broken heart, a struggling marriage, business pressure, financial pressure, health problems or whatever, in God's presence, I have found the love, strength and wisdom to keep going. The Bible calls this "God's grace." It really is sufficient for whatever we're facing in life (2 Cor. 12:9).

Get Spirit-filled content delivered right to your inbox! Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.

Wanting to pass on this most important lesson is one of the reasons we developed our App, "Awakening to God Today." It's one of the simplest apps you'll ever come across, and yet it could help to change your life.

Our app will guide you in how to enjoy eight minutes with God before starting your day. It will help you to give thanks, hear God's voice, memorize Scripture and journal. You will quickly discover this is the most important eight minutes of your day and will look forward to it each morning.

The other reason for this app is that, as a nonprofit organization, funds raised will help us provide clean water, food, mosquito nets and medical aid to the poorest of the poor in India and other countries.

The app launches on December 31. Please watch this YouTube video to get an idea of how the app works.

Also, please will you support the launch of our app by pledging a post on Facebook or Twitter or both. It takes 10 seconds to pledge a message—click this link and then click "Support with Facebook, add my support."

I pray God will strengthen you in your inner being that you may be able to live a life of faith and love so as to bring glory to God and fulfill His plan for you.

Learn more, including sign-up details, at About Awakening to God Ministries (ATG).

Gerard and Jeannie Long founded ATG to share the love and comfort God is giving them in their brokenness, with people who are suffering in the U.S. and all around the world. Isaiah 61:1, NIV is their founding scripture—"to proclaim good news to the poor, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners."Learn more about the Longs' story at awakeningtogod.org.

Get Spirit-filled content delivered right to your inbox! Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.

Dr. Mark Rutland's

National Institute of Christian Leadership (NICL)

The NICL is one of the top leadership training programs in the U.S. taught by Dr. Mark Rutland. If you're the type of leader that likes to have total control over every aspect of your ministry and your future success, the NICL is right for you!

FREE NICL MINI-COURSE - Enroll for 3-hours of training from Dr. Rutland's full leadership course. Experience the NICL and decide if this training is right for you and your team.

The NICL Online is an option for any leader with time or schedule constraints. It's also for leaders who want to expedite their training to receive advanced standing for Master Level credit hours. Work through Dr. Rutland's full training from the comfort of your home or ministry at your pace. Learn more about NICL Online. Learn more about NICL Online.