I had been asked, “Why?”
Why get up early when I do not need to do so. In thinking about it, the answer became crystal clear – –
I get up early because I do need to!
I will readily admit when I began this practice, it was an experiment. Would my days run more smoothly? Would I be more aware of God’s Presence with me? Would His Word help me throughout the day? I needed to know the answers to these questions, all of which are, “Yes! Yes! And, yes!”
Little by little, I found I could no longer give myself an out. There was to be no choice given on whether to get up early or not. I needed to spend time with God in His Word. I had to have a verse to carry with my in my thoughts as the days unfolded. Sometimes they were even written on an index card. And some days, they are like this, stuck in my wallet, to be handy wherever I would go ….
Why do I continue this habit each day? I think God likes it š I think He likes when I meet with Him and have my first cup of coffee with Him. There is an infusion of strength and grace and peace and hope which occurs. His Word assures us –
“Satisfy us in the morning with Your faithful love so that we may shout with joy and be glad all our days.” (Psalm 90:14)
‘Satisfy’, according to dictionary.com is “to give full contentment to; to give assurance to; to solve or dispel, as a doubt“.
And there is was, the answer to my “why?”
Getting up early each morning enables me to believe Him, for He alone dispels all doubts. He brings me contentment as He assures me He is with me.
So tomorrow morning, the alarm will go off early. I will head to the kitchen to pour my first cup of coffee and sit down with His Word in my lap.
For each morning as G.K. Chesterton suggested, the Lord is saying, “Do it again, child!”
Today I am joining …. Testimony Tuesday and Unite and True Story and RaRaLinkup and Intentional Tuesday .
“Do it again, child!” made me smile š I love my morning moments of peace with the Lord also and I can tell when I have been depriving myself of those times. The Lord woke me an hour and a half before my alarm this morning and we’ve had a sweet time! While I don’t really want to get up that early again tomorrow … I will still set the alarm to have those morning moments with Him! #RaRaLinkUp
Sarah, I loved the Chesterton quote when I read it too š May we both meet Him early tomorrow!
Well I would be ok with sleeping a little longer but YES we’ll meet Him again tomorrow!! š
I think we’re beginning to discover that sleeping in is a little overrated, š
I live for my early morning alone time. It tends to help the rest of my day eb and flow ! It also reminds me that each new day starts with new mercies.
It is so true – the early morning helps the rest of the day to flow so much better. So grateful for His new mercies!
I love my early morning time with Him, couldn’t go without it. I appreciate any encouragement in this area! Sometimes that alarm seems to go off early, especially when I went to bed late, but it’s always worth it. I’m trying to be more disciplined about bed time too! #RaRaLinkup
Betsy, you make such a needed point – to be disciplined in the morning, we need to be disciplined at bed time as well. I am working on this one as well š
Your post reminds me of Hebrews 4:12 – “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” God already wrote your why into His book. Don’t you love that? š
Yes, I truly do! A little heart surgery each morning to set the day right š
I too rise a little earlier than I “need to” because I so desperately need to. For years when I had newborns I couldn’t do it, and now as my kids grow I realize that I can’t make it through the day if I don’t seek Him first. Thank you for your words!
I had to smile when I read your comment. I do think I began the practice of early rising so I would become a little more patient while raising my children. It probably spared both me & them from many a bad day!
I love how God can change our heart and our habits. The past few years, I’ve taken on disciplines for Lent, thinking they’d just be for those weeks. Then, I realized how much I needed and wanted that focus with God. Last year’s was waking up very early to write, pray and read the Bible – and now I practically jump out of the bed at 4 (sometimes even before the alarm goes off) and I miss it desperately when I have to miss my morning time.
Kathryn, you rise earlier than I do. No matter the time, it is so true, I miss it as well when I do not get up in time. So grateful for the nudge He gives each morning!
Yes, those quiet moments in the morning are a gift. I smiled when I saw your index card, because mine go in my pocket and are a mess by the end of the day (or days) that I carry them.
Mine are a mess & are all over the place. I even have spiral index cards in an effort to keep them in one place & still use loose index cards. But they do the trick of keeping me in the Word I need.
Oh Joanne – I love this! It is so true… He loves it any time we set aside time with Him to just sit and be… (but those waking moments, it seems He is not having to wade through a lot of other thoughts yet to get to us!) š Great post!
Karrilea, it’s true! There isn’t as much occupying space in my thoughts so early in the morning! And once my head is full of His thoughts, it doesn’t leave room for much else. Win/win situation š
I’m so with you on this, Joanne. I too NEED that morning time with Him. Just last night I forgot to reset my alarm and ended up sleeping this morning 30 minutes later than usual. I still had time to spend with him but I was disappointed that I would need to cut it shorter than usual. That time is just so precious to me . . . and I know to Him too.
Blessings
Beth, I love that we feel disappointed when our morning time has been cut into. I bet the Lord is pleased we feel that way as well. May you have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend! I appreciated all your family has sacrificed for me! Blessings!
Great encouragement, Joanne. I am not an early riser, because I’m a night owl – so I certainly admire your ability to get up and at it early. But I totally relate to that need to draw near to Him, drink in His word, and keep on doing so. Blessings, friend.
Tiffany, I think we all need to find the time of day which works best for us. And I will tell you…when I started doing this – it did not come easily. And now, I wake up before the alarm clock. No matter the time, may we spend time with Him regularly š Have a great weekend!
Yes, that is such a beautiful thought. He makes us go through our day with so much more joy. I love that verse Joanne. I am an early riser and love to seek him first. I do feel like it puts first things first. It sets the tone! Great insight to us all! Cheering you on wildly today from the #RaRalinkup with Purposeful Faith.
Kelly, I like how you put it – “it sets the tone”. Thanks for cheering so many of us on each week! Have a wonderful long weekend!
Joanne, I don’t remember when I started getting up early to have quiet time with God, but I do remember the difference it made in my days. His Word established early in my heart gave me His strength and peace that continued through the day. Thank you, Joanne, for sharing your heart at #IntentionalTuesday on Intentionally Pursuing. : )
Crystal, isn’t it funny how we may not remember when we started but we surely remember the impact it made on our lives. I so love that!
For years I read my Bible at night, and during the day I walked with Him, but last year I was impressed to read my Bible first thing. I am not an early riser, but my Bible gets first place. The day does go better. Thank you for sharing with us here at Tell me a Story.
Hazel, it may not be so much that we must rise early as that we give Him the first moments of our day. I think that may be the secret – giving Him first priority each day. Always good to join you and share!
I am not a morning person, but I understand the importance of spending the first few minutes of every day with the Lord. You have inspired me to get back on track. I tend to be able to do this for a few weeks, and that I fall off the wagon. I’m hoping (and praying!) to be more committed this time around.
Laura, it may not mean having to get up earlier as much as it means giving Him the first moments of your day. And when we fall off the wagon, we pick ourselves up & get right back on the wagon š
Thanks! I love it but sometimes Iam so tiredin the morning and sad … But Ineed it.
Ariella, just start with a few minutes in the beginning. Let Him have a few of the first moments of your day & let it grow from there. Blessings on your days!
I agree with this. I’ve fallen out of practice of it, giving myself an “out” when I’m up with multiple kids at 1am, 3am, 4:30am…. I’m exhausted. And the times I do get up and try to meet with God, my Early Riser gets up moments after me (how does she know!?) and the day begins before I can really breathe. That’s exhausting.
I di agree that it is needed! Thanks for the reminder. And I will try harder this week!!
Give yourself grace, Dana. Perhaps spend time with God at another time of day which would be easier on your body, like naps? That’s the beauty of Him – He is so accommodating & will meet us any time of day š Blessings!