09/02/2026
Excerpts from Sparkling Gems II by Rick Renner September 2nd
“And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.”
Mark 1:35 ESV
“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 NKJV
“Jesus sought a secluded place where He could enter into fellowship with the Holy Spirit. He understood that the strength and anointing He needed depended on His fellowship with the Father and the Holy Spirit. So Jesus made it His highest priority to withdraw from the disciples and from the multitudes very early in the morning to spend time fellowshipping with the Father and the Holy Spirit without interruption.”
“Jesus always sought a “solitary” place where He would not be disturbed.”
“In other words, Jesus sought for a place where no one would accidentally find Him and disturb this solitary time in prayer. This demonstrates just how vitally important it was to Jesus to find time alone where the Father could speak to His heart and He could pour His heart out to the Father and fellowship with the Holy Spirit.”
“He longs to have this time with you — and you must have it if you are to live as an overcoming, victorious, empowered child of God.”
“MY PRAYER FOR TODAY
Heavenly Father, I make a fresh commitment to start each day by lifting my voice to You. Each morning, Lord, I will rise and present my life to You, waiting expectantly for what You will speak to my heart. I ask Your forgiveness for all the times I foolishly launched into my day without having read your Word, sought Your face, or consulted the Holy Spirit whom You sent to be my Counselor, Helper, and Guide. Father, how arrogant and misguided of me to believe I could walk effectively in wisdom and truth without having submitted myself to You first. Only through rich fellowship with You can I produce fruit that remains. Forgive me for mistaking busyness for fruitfulness. I abide in You and let Your words abide in me. I treasure the words of Your mouth more than my necessary food. Holy Spirit, I ask You to help me order my day and to keep it set around giving my time with the Father first place from this day forward. I pray this in Jesus’ name!”
“MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY
I confess that I do not neglect my time in a “solitary place” with God. I deliberately designate an off-limits time and place where I can have deep, meaningful, and uninterrupted fellowship with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Just as Jesus arose a great while before day to meet with the Father and then emerged from His solitary times renewed in power, I come forth from my daily times refreshed, reinvigorated, filled with new ideas, and empowered for my day. These moments of solitude with the Father keep my heart sensitive and yielded to Him while equipping me to possess my daily victory in the power of His might! I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!”
When Stephen and I pastored in inner city Chicago I taught the women whom the Lord entrusted me to get a pad of paper and pen and lay it by their bed. Before their feet hit the floor they were to pray in the Spirit and pray with their understanding also. They were to write down what the Holy Spirit revealed to them to do for that day. Whom to call, whom to visit, whom to help. What to do. 100% of the time Jesus would lead and guide each woman individually by His Holy Spirit and they would have a Supernatural day! I called it “Our Daily Destiny”!
I myself have not been faithful. I’ve been caught up in the cares of this life. However, these last few days of spending time in the devotional Sparkling Gems II has really stirred me up to repent and return to my first love Jesus and do the things I used to do when I dedicated my life to following Jesus.
I hope this inspires you to do the same❤️
