I have never been a “morning person”(just ask my family). For years I more closely resembled a hibernating bear awakened before its time. As I have aged (gracefully I hope) I am still not at my best first thing in the morning. Fortunately, God gets me up early enough that first thing in the morning comes earlier and earlier, and by the time the rest of the world is awake, I am bearable.

In reading my Bible this morning in the book of Joshua, I once again read where someone called of God to do a specific (and not necessarily pleasant task) awoke early to take on that task. Joshua chapter three begins with these words: “And Joshua rose early in the morning.” I did a search of the Bible and found 67 verses that contain those words referring to a servant of God—Abraham, Jacob, Joshua, Moses, Samuel, David to name a few. All rose early to take on the tasks that God gave them. There was no shirking, sleeping in or avoidance. They rose early and set to work on the task God assigned.

So here is the question for each of us. Do we “rise early in the morning” to be about God’s work? Are we doing daily what God has called us to do? Are we avoiding it? Procrastinating? We say we want to be used by God, but then we “sleep in” and do not “rise early” to be about God’s business. Some days we get up on the wrong side of the bed; we lack energy and motivation, and we set aside the most important task of the day—spending quality time with God—for “later.”

I find that in examining and following the example of Abraham, Jacob, Moses, and Joshua, that the wisdom of the act of “rising early in the morning” and getting my day started with God, even if it is a few moments of quick prayer and a few verses of the Bible, matters. I am not saying that you have to be in the Word first thing each morning, but I am saying it makes a difference in my day. A day that does not begin God centered, too easily gets world centered.

You too may not be a morning person.However, from experience I know that even a few minutes first thing in the morning in prayer and reading my Bible sets a positive tone and perspective on the day ahead. My most creative and engaged time of day is usually in the evening, so I give this “best” time to God. I have a standing “appointment” with God for prayer and Bible study at the end of the day. It is a time that is not optional and enables me to go to bed with things “right” with God.

Whether you “rise early in the morning” to be about God’s work and spend time with Him or you end your day with meaningful time with God, the most important thing is to spend time with Him daily. Find within His Word the scriptures and passages that help you walk with God in all that you do. Submitting to His Wisdom and Will keeps you on the path that God has chosen for you. You can only know God’s Will for you by spending time with Him: Praying, meditating and speaking the word, listening in the stillness to know that He is God and that all things work to His Purpose.

 

Author:  Lea A. Strickland, MBA CMA CFM CBM GMC
Copyright ©2012 Lea A. Strickland
All Rights Reserved

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