New Every Morning: Great is Your Faithfulness
I have had the joy and privilege of waking up early for the past three mornings…before my family rises. By early, I mean around 5am. This morning it was 4:30.
Go ahead and laugh. Joy and Privilege!?
I know, I could be resenting the fact that I am not catching up on some much needed post-holidays sleep. But, instead, I am full of joy, excitement, and energy.
Let me share with you a bit of history. I have always been a bit envious of the mother’s who enjoy rising before their family {at a more decent hour perhaps} to get their first cup of coffee, have time to pray and meditate on God’s word, and begin to organize their day before they hear the first pitter, patter of feet.
This has never been an option for me, until the past few days!
My oldest is an early riser. He loves mornings, is best in the morning, much like his mamma.
Until around his fifth birthday, his daddy and I would rotate “morning detail”. We are talking about getting up with a chatterbox, energized, “ready-to-go” little boy at 5am. Yep! We have had many an early morning. By 8am, I would be ready for a nap!
Granted, in the past I have tried to get up early. I longed for uninterrupted quiet time. But, despite my best attempts at cat-like maneuvers to move stealthily through our house, my son would hear me and wake up ready to play. I simply gave up trying and, as best I could, would chisel out another time in my day. Unfortunately, God was most often not getting the best of me.
So, now, when my almost 9-year-old is sleeping until 6:30, and I can rise before him and spend some time with my Holy Father – it is a joy and privilege.
The Proverbs 31 woman had it right!
She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens. (Proverbs 31:15)
Yesterday, I made chocolate chip pancakes and had school-lunches ready by 7am. Hallelujah! Normally, I have been scrambling before the 8 o’clock bus.
{My maidens went a bit hungry, though. Just kidding…maidens would be nice. I am sure if I fed them a hefty dose of eggs, toast and bacon in the morning, my laundry, housecleaning, and meal prep would be done by the crack of dawn. A girl can dream…}
But, seriously, there is something radical about getting up before the rest of the house is awake. I know this has been a long-term habit for many of you. Now I get it! I feel refreshed, ready, joyful.
And here, in this moment, I find myself lifting up thanks to God for early mornings to fellowship with Him.
The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The LORD is my portion, ” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” (Lamentations 3:22-24)
Praise God for early mornings!
newly purposed,
jana
January 4th, 2013 at 6:35 am
This was Just what i need this morning. As you know I’m a very early riser. Always have been and I think always will. Love the quiet/ reflection time. Have a great day!
January 4th, 2013 at 6:39 am
Love you, Lainie. So happy to know I am not the only one up at the crazy hour. Blessings and Refreshment be upon you today. ~jana
January 4th, 2013 at 9:47 am
Praising God with you!! I can’t always get up early, but when I can – you’re right, what a difference it makes in the day. Praying He gives you the strength and commitment to continue!
January 4th, 2013 at 4:30 pm
Thank you, Elizabeth. I hope my son continues to give me that time in the morning. Thanks for understanding why I could give God praise for something like sleeping in. Makes sense to me! Loving your blog, Elizabeth. It keeps getting better and better. Congrats on the book! ~jana
January 4th, 2013 at 9:54 am
Ha, ha! Love the crack about your maidens.
I am not a morning person, which is precisely why I need to be up early. I need the time to wake up before my children need me. I have really been struggling with doing it since October, though. I thought the new year would be a good motivator for a fresh start, but it hasn’t been easy. I have to find a way, though, because my day is so much better when it starts early!
January 4th, 2013 at 4:29 pm
I know, wouldn’t we all love a few maidens “on staff”. yes, we will see if his sleeping in until 6:30 continues. I am loving it right now! Thank you for visiting j3d today. Happy New Year, Teresa. ~jana
January 5th, 2013 at 12:15 pm
Oh for a few maidens… or even ONE maiden, two or three days a week
I’m an early-bird, but it’s nothing of my own doing. God wired me that way, which is really helpful. But even with the early rising, mornings can still get hectic!
I know the Lord will bless your endeavor to get a smoother start to your day, Jana. Blessings to you in 2013
January 5th, 2013 at 7:32 pm
Thank you, Susan. Blessings. ~jana