Days sweetest moments are at dawn.
~ Ella Wheeler Wilcox
The habit developed when my children were younger. Doing home daycare for six neighborhood children plus running my own children to after school activities left little “quiet” time during the day. If I were going to have any time alone, it meant getting up earlier than everyone else.
The habit stuck. It has surprised me probably more than anyone else that it has. The mornings are my favorite part of the day. The above quote brought to mind the psalmist, David, who also enjoyed mornings:
“Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.” (Psalm 5:3, NLT)
David was eager to get up early in the morning to pray. Doing so each day, developed persistence in prayer. He would bring his requests, those things weighing heavy on his heart, before God. Conversing with God on a daily basis helped David to consistently pursue God.
David also waited in expectation. He believed that God would answer him, in His time and in His way, according to His perfect will. Morning prayer assured David of five things:
- God would make His way plain for David to follow (verse 8).
- God would bring protection (verse 11).
- God would fill him with joy (verse 11).
- God would bless him (verse 12)
- God would surround him with a shield of love (verse 12).
In the early morning hours, David knew he needed to do to set his day in order.
“Prayer is not a check request asking for things from God. It is a deposit slip – a way of depositing God’s character into our bankrupt souls.â€
– Dutch Sheets
It is in prayer that our God tends to our bankrupt souls and our souls are enriched.
Today I am joining … Thought Provoking Thursday and Grace Moments .
Oh Joanne, I love this! I love how you spelled out the five points of Psalm 5 – and especially the fifth one – being surrounded with a shield of love. Who wouldn’t want that? It’s definitely incentive to get up early.
Thanks, too, for the Dutch Sheets quote! I’m going to add that one to my collection!
Joanne, I also find those early morning moments to be priceless. There are times I get overwhelmed and rush right into my day only to realise that I desperately needed the quiet moment with God to help me get through the day. I’m still learning and growing and so I’m thankful to God for his grace!
I just started a Devotions board on Pinterest and I’ll be adding this there!
This is beautiful. I, too, love early mornings and starting my day with Jesus.
Ella Wheeler Wilcox is one of my favorite poets and I love the last sentence… Prayer is most definitely how our souls are filled up and tended by Him. I wasn’t always a morning person, but we need to get that quiet time with Him first, don’t we? It is a necessity, maybe even more than air. 🙂
So thankful you shared this at the #GraceMoments Link Up, Joanne! Thank you for being such a valuable part of my little table of grace.
Blessings!
Dawn
Dawn, I truly look forward to sitting with you on Thursdays. You bless me beyond just words!