Charles Stanley opens the program by asking listeners to decide how they begin each morning: with confidence in themselves or with a dependence on God. He frames prayer as a privilege, a conversation that can shape the entire day.

Why Start the Day with Dependence?

Stanley explains that recognizing our need for God is the first step toward a deeper relationship. He says, “When you begin the day, do you begin it with a sense of confidence in yourself or do you begin it with a sense of dependence upon God?” The question invites listeners to consider how their morning routine reflects their trust in God.

The Hezekiah Example

To illustrate dependence, Stanley recalls the story of King Hezekiah. He notes that when the Assyrians threatened the city, Hezekiah “laid that message before Almighty God” and prayed for rescue. Stanley uses this example to show that even a king can’t rely on human counsel alone; he must turn to God in humility.

Practical Ways to Make Prayer a Priority

Stanley offers several concrete steps: schedule a specific time each morning, keep the slot sacred, and use the moment to share plans, worries, and desires with God. He warns that without a deliberate schedule, “Satan will work you over day and night to be sure he doesn’t care.” By making prayer a consistent part of the day, listeners can “walk through the day together” with God.

Prayer as a Channel of Blessing

He reminds listeners of the familiar promise, “Ask and it shall be given you. Seek and you shall find. Knock and it shall be opened to you.” Stanley explains that prayer is not a guarantee of every wish, but it is the channel through which God’s resources flow. He encourages listeners to keep the channel clear and to trust that God will respond.

For a fuller exploration of how to bring God into the start of each day, listen to the full “Making Prayer a Priority” program.