EARLY TO RISE

Let me hear in the morning of Your steadfast love, for in You I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to You I lift up my soul.
— PSALM 143:8

I was listening to a devotional the other morning and the speaker said something that made me think back. He was talking about spending time with God in the mornings, or most people call it a “quiet time”. The speaker was saying how a lot of people say they don’t have time. I have been told that many times myself. The speaker went on to say you can get up 30 minutes earlier in order to have time to spend with the Lord.

There are about 36 verses in the Bible which speak of someone getting up early to meet God. From Abraham to Moses to Joshua to Jesus and several of the prophets. Mark 1:35 says Jesus got up early in the morning, while it was still dark, and left the house to be alone to pray to the Father.

Some people are not morning people. It’s that simple. But you can still get up 15 to 30 minutes earlier than usual to have a quiet time with God if you really want to.

Here’s what happened to me and it may give someone else an idea. I accepted Jesus into my life when I was 12. As time went on, high school and such I fell away some. I never was a drinker or anything, but I wasn’t living for the Lord either. 1984 I rededicated my life to Christ and decided I needed to start having a quiet time, reading the Bible and praying. I tried to get up a little earlier, but something would always happen to disturb my sleep and I felt cheated.

One night I prayed for God to wake me up. At 5:00 AM the next morning the lamp on Shirley’s side of the bed came on. She asked me why I turned it on. I said, “I didn’t turn it on.” A couple minutes later I said, “Honey that lamp hasn’t worked for a while.” I mean like 2 or 3 weeks. (I don’t recall it working after that either). Needless to say, I got up that morning. Very seldom do I have a problem getting up in time to have a quiet time since then. I have really enjoyed reading my Bible over the years.

I think the reason God likes to meet us early in the morning is so He is FIRST in your day. He says plainly “I shall be first.” He is a jealous God.

The point I’m making is, if you ask Him to help you get up, He will help you. God loves each of us and is longing to spend time with each of us.

So GET UP!

Think and pray

Take time for Him because He always has time for us.

Father, thank You for being ever-present, always there and ready to listen and speak with me. I pray that You would wake me up each morning with a priority and desire to start my day in Your word and in prayer. Speak into me by Your Spirit, and lead me in the way I should go. Amen.

Carl Mears is a concrete contractor in Oklahoma City and a long-time member of the CBMC team that meets at the IHOP on Wednesday mornings. His business website is carlmears.com.