What is your morning routine? How do you start your day? Do you stagger into the kitchen, pour a cup of coffee, turn on your phone, or some other electronics to see what has happened while you were asleep? Where do you fit God into that routine? I believe the things that are most important to us, the things we love most, will automatically take first place. So, how do you start your day? Today, I want to share with you what I believe is the best way to begin each day. I want to focus on seeking Jesus. We need to seek him early. Before you night owls shut me down, look at the benefit and the examples given in scripture of seeking and talking to Him first.
Psalm 63:1” A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;”
Proverbs 8:17 “I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.”
Why do I think early is the best time?
- If you rise an hour before the kids, it’s quiet. No one in the household is seeking your attention.
- Your mind is fresh. I don’t know about you, but many times when I go to bed my mind is racing and I can’t seem to shut it down. Sleep allows those anxious memories to fade away, at least for a while.
- The phone isn’t ringing, or texting hasn’t begun, because friends are still trying to get themselves going for the day.
- We have a clear mind and a quiet house, to reflect on God’s goodness and meditate on his word.
- Jesus did it! And He’s the best example we can have. Mark 1:35 “And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.”
Morning is a hard adjustment for many. It was for me, but it was a matter of discipline. I had never been an early morning person until I started a job that required me to be at work at 5:00 a.m. I lived thirty minutes from work so that meant I had to leave my home at 4:30 a.m. Therefore, at best I had to get up at 4:00 a.m. Yes, I said 4:00. Until then I thought 4:00 o’clock only came in the afternoon. It was a hard lesson to learn, but after I had trained myself to arise that early, I began to see the value in it. I can remember being on the road almost totally alone. Very few people were up and going that early in Richmond, VA, so it was a perfect time to pray and reflect on the goodness of God. To bring my request to him.
I remember the morning I determined this is the perfect prayer time. I looked out and I was approaching the Wiley Bridge that crossed the James River. I had been thinking about what it would be like when Jesus returns, and at that exact moment, the sun began to peek over the horizon on the water. It was a glorious sight. From that day on, I loved my morning trip. Almost every day, I got to the bridge just as the sun peeked it’s head up to brighten the sky.
Biologically my internal clock would still rather stay up late and sleep a little later than 4:00, at least until 6:00. However, I have found that studying at night is not as productive. At that point in the day, I am tired and my thoughts are rehashing the day. I understand better why Jesus gave us an example to pray in the morning.
I personally believe that we should start and stop our day talking to our best friend in the world, Jesus. You can have a morning prayer time. It’s just a matter of discipline and desire. Do you thirst after him? Do you long to talk to him? Oh, that we would run to him in the morning, seeking him just as the deer pants for the water.
Psalm 42:1” As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God.” (ESV)
What’s your excuse to not seek him first?
Are you eager to meet him when your eyes open?
Will it be difficult to train yourself to carve out time in the morning? I believe it will be, but the reward of meeting with Jesus first will outweigh all the challenges you will face. It will set your pattern for the day and give you strength and wisdom for all those tough things the world throws at you. Seek Him first with your time, your thoughts, your money, your relationships, your study of His Word, and yes your prayer time.
Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
Thank you so much for the devotions.