Get to a place where you can focus and read the daily Scripture passage several times. From the passage of Scripture you read, highlight one or two verses that stick out. Write them down, and even consider rewriting the verse(s) in your own words.

Make some basic observations about the scripture you just read by asking these questions:

- Why was this written?

- To whom was it originally written?

- What is the author trying to communicate?

- What does the Scripture passage teach me about God and humanity?

After taking some time explaining the highlighted scriptures, begin to think about how they apply to your life. Ask yourself these questions and spend some time writing down your thoughts:

- What do these verses mean today?

- What does this verse(s) mean for my life?

- How does this verse challenge my thinking and actions?

- What changes do I need to make in my life as a result of this passage of Scripture?

Your response to the passage may take on many forms. You may write a call to action. You may describe how you will be different because of what God has said to you through the Bible verses. You may indicate what you are going to do because of what you learned. You may respond by writing out a prayer to God. For example, you may ask God to help you to be more loving, or to give you a desire to be more generous in your giving. Keep in mind that this is your response to what you have just read.Your response to the passage may take on many forms. You may write a call to action. You may describe how you will be different because of what God has said to you through the Bible verses. You may indicate what you are going to do because of what you learned. You may respond by writing out a prayer to God. For example, you may ask God to help you to be more loving, or to give you a desire to be more generous in your giving. Keep in mind that this is your response to what you have just read.

Highlight

“Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:43-44, word of Jesus)

Explain

James and John, brothers and two of Jesus’ disciples, ask Jesus if they can have places of honor, authority, and greatness in heaven. The other disciples heard about James and John’s request, and they got mad at them. They were angry at what they perceived as arrogance. Jesus responds to this tension by teaching them about humility. He even uses his example as a teaching point. It’s about serving…not being served. The path to greatness is always grounded in the pursuit of serving.

Apply

I always need to be challenged in my understanding of “greatness”. Why? Because the pursuit of greatness will ultimately transform me into a person of meekness. This continues to jump out at me because pride and recognition have such deep roots in my life. When this battle comes, the question I need to ask is…”How can I serve someone today?”

Respond

Today I’m going to look for someone to serve with no strings attached and in a way that doesn’t elicit any recognition. Heavenly Father, please open my eyes to someone I can serve today, and give me the strength to seek no gain or recognition from it. Amen.

Start by praising God. Praise God by speaking to His character (i.e. His greatness, faithfulness, goodness, etc.) and by sharing with Him the things in your life you are thankful for (i.e. your health, provisions, relationships, etc.). This will get your heart in the right posture as you begin connecting with God in prayer.

Next, move into a short time of repentance. Repentance is the authentic activity of saying, “I’m sorry” to God and allowing Him to forgive you. It is giving the space for God to reveal any sinful thoughts or actions in your life, admitting that you were in the wrong, and then committing to change for the better.

We all have things on our minds and heart that we would like to ask God for. Use this time to share with God any specific prayer requests that you have. Write them down for future reference to see how God answered your prayers.

The final step is to spend some time yielding to God. This simply means to stop and quiet your heart to hear from God. It is trusting your specific prayer requests to God, allowing Him to answer it in His timing and in His way. This is probably the most difficult step in prayer, but it’s worth the effort to make it a habit.