Son, She Gets Up Early

On our quest to find out more about this virtuous woman we tackle the next verse. We find out an important factor affecting her productivity. She gets up early! Someone who loves to sleep does not see the importance of this trait. To them, the time of day you do your prayer and study is irrelevant. However, there is much benefit in being an early riser. Let’s look at a few as we contemplate why it is important .

Proverbs 31:15 “She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.”

Jesus himself set us an example or seeking the Father early.

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.”

First, in the morning things are usually quiet. Getting up before the rest of the family does provide a time to be alone with God. How many times have you began to pray only to be interrupted by a screaming child or even the laughter of a child? If it gets too far into the day, there is competition with the phone and the rest of the world. Any of these can pull your attention away from your consecrated effort to pray or study.

Second, when you pray early your mind is clearer. It hasn’t had time to get cluttered with the events of the day. So much of our energy is spent by the end of the day, that it makes it harder to concentrate. In times past, when I would study, saving my devotion time until night, I found it was short lived. I was tired from the day and I knew I was giving God what was left over.

Third, when you rise early and start your time with God, you are showing your desire for your time with God, to be first in your life. We are to seek him first in everything.

Fourth, praying and studying first, sets the tone for the rest of the day. With Christ at the forefront of our minds everything looks better.

Fifth, you are setting an example for those in your household. Both of our children have mentioned to me the blessings they got from hearing us praying in morning or seeing us reading our Bibles.

Sixth, when you encounter others during the day, friends, family, or co-workers you have something to give them. When we take time with God first, ask him to direct our steps and our words that day, he will do it. When His word is fresh on your mind you are prepared to share.

There may be those who work nights and can’t rise early, but the benefits I mention need to be plugged in somewhere. Figure out when would be a time that you can give 100% of yourself to God, and do it.