Periodically, I feel convinced God wants me to spend time with him in the morning... before I start my day. I get excited and I focused. I last about 4 days, then revert back to the "whenever I can squeeze it in," mentality.
Earlier in life, before life was substantially more difficult, I could not tell any added benefit from the early morning "God time." More recently, I can.
When I read God's word and pray at night, I'm usually licking my wounds by the end of the day. Picking up the pieces... asking God to "put humpty dumpty back together again." In contrast, when I spend my mornings with God... the trouble still comes, but I seemed emotionally and spiritually prepared for it. I navigated my day with more grace. By nightfall, there were no major wounds to lick. No pieces to put back together. Just minor scrapes and bruises. Small enough as to not cause any troublesome pain.
I'm starting to see each day as a spiritual battle. If I wait till night to engage with the Almighty... It means I've gone through my day of battle without my armor on. So of course I'll be beaten to a pulp! What was I expecting? But now, as I've spent the last several mornings connecting with God, the armor is ON. I've been prepared! Though trouble did come, I was ready. Ready to defend myself from the slings and arrows of our enemy. It paid off too. I did not fall into old patterns of "reacting." Instead, I sensed the Holy Spirit directing my response to the challenges. By grace, I came out of each day's battle standing in God's victory.
I see real progress here. Glory to God. I MUST keep this up!
David
Earlier in life, before life was substantially more difficult, I could not tell any added benefit from the early morning "God time." More recently, I can.
When I read God's word and pray at night, I'm usually licking my wounds by the end of the day. Picking up the pieces... asking God to "put humpty dumpty back together again." In contrast, when I spend my mornings with God... the trouble still comes, but I seemed emotionally and spiritually prepared for it. I navigated my day with more grace. By nightfall, there were no major wounds to lick. No pieces to put back together. Just minor scrapes and bruises. Small enough as to not cause any troublesome pain.
I'm starting to see each day as a spiritual battle. If I wait till night to engage with the Almighty... It means I've gone through my day of battle without my armor on. So of course I'll be beaten to a pulp! What was I expecting? But now, as I've spent the last several mornings connecting with God, the armor is ON. I've been prepared! Though trouble did come, I was ready. Ready to defend myself from the slings and arrows of our enemy. It paid off too. I did not fall into old patterns of "reacting." Instead, I sensed the Holy Spirit directing my response to the challenges. By grace, I came out of each day's battle standing in God's victory.
I see real progress here. Glory to God. I MUST keep this up!
David
It's November 2014. I have kept up my morning's with God. They feel a very important part of my healthier life. Thank you Father God.
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