Strangely enough, I slept late this morning until almost 7 am because I forgot to set my alarm and Trevor didn't want to wake me. I've been getting up around 5 am for the past few weeks to have my quiet time, and it has been wonderful. Wonderful prayer time, wonderful time digging into the Word and wonderful alone time.
What is not wonderful is the actual dragging of my body out of bed at such an obscene hour of the morning. And let me tell you....although my mantra has been, "It will get easier, it will get easier" it has not! Did I mention that I am not a morning person? Did I mention that even my husband won't speak to me until I've had at least one cup of coffee? What makes me think that God Himself wants to hear what I have to say in that early morning, pre-coffee tone of voice?Since I'm being honest here, I must also report that I have come dangerously close to falling asleep during my prayer time. I have my coffee right there in front of me, and I've had a few sips to get me going, but it feels a little disrespectful to drink coffee while conversing with the Lord of Lords, so I refrain during my prayer.
5 am + Insufficient coffee= Potential for dozing off
Am I alone here? Please tell me that I am not the only one who has jerked my head up with the horrifying realization that my thoughts had wandered and I was drifting off. My spirit is oh so willing, but my flesh is definitely weak. So I redouble my efforts and pray for focus and strength. I've tried praying with my eyes open, but I get too distracted. I've tried praying at the end of my quiet time, but I like to begin with it so that I can get in the proper state of mind for reading the Word.
I guess the important thing is that I am having a quiet time, although some mornings I think the Lord just shakes is head in disgust at my feeble attempts to communicate. I wonder sometimes if my thoughts sound as muddled as my voice does when I try to speak when I'm really tired. Some mornings, I'm just thankful to have the Holy Spirit interceding for me!
This morning was one of those mornings, and although it seemed as if my day was off to an inauspicious beginning, it turned out to be a wonderful, albeit busy, day. My mom was in town and so I was able to chat with her for most of the morning before she left to go home. Our friends Chris and Ali moved into their new house today, so we spent a good portion of our afternoon and evening helping them get settled in.
I got to bathe their son Calvin, who is almost one year old. I had forgotten how sweet it is to hold a little one in the water and then to wrap them up in a big towel to whisk them away to be slathered in lotion and put in pajamas. He is such a good natured baby and it was fun to do those baby things again. Of course, it was fun because he wasn't spending the night with me and I didn't have to get up at 2 am to comfort him. Everything is relative!So, it's been a good day with even better friends, and I'm ending my day the way I started it....praising God for the blessings in my life and giving Him the glory for everything. And, of course, setting the coffee pot up for tomorrow morning.....
(BTW...Happy 6th Anniversary Chris and Ali!)
6 comments:
I'm with you...that's why the name of my blog is praise and coffee. I love to praise with coffee in hand (or at least close by!).
Blessings,
Sue
Maybe you should say a quick prayer first, do devotion (and drink coffee) and then top it off with a more indepth prayer time?
Just a suggestion. Or you could move your time back. I've just been making it my goal to get up a certain amount of time before I have to get it to get ready so it isn't the same every day. I still start the morning off right, but I don't have to get up at the crack of dawn!
Alana,
I would love to sleep later, but I normally get up at 6 am in order to get out the door for 7am to go to work. I think the 5 am wake up call is here to stay, but I'll try the quick prayer tomorrow and see if that works better!
Thanks for the suggestions!
I do what Alana suggested. I start with a prayer asking God to speak to me from His Word... to show me just the nugget that He has for me and to give me eyes to see what He wants me too. Then I dig into the Word and speak with Him as I reflect on what He's shown me, whether it's been encouragement (and I give Him thanks), conviction (and I ask Him to give me strength to obey), guidance, or something else. I intercede for friends and family... and just worship Him.
Somehow I don't see God shaking His head in disgust at a woman who gets up at 5am because spending time with Him is a priority. I see Him smiling down and gently nudging you awake. Don't be discouraged. He knows your heart.. and it's beautiful. :)
I am not a morning person, either. Believe me...it's been a God thing that I've been getting up at 5:30 for the past few weeks! It does get easier.
I don't close my eyes to pray. I read Scripture, then I write my prayers out to Him. It may seem less personal to some, but it's better than nodding off (which I used to do, too!)
He'll find something that works for your special time with Him. I just know He will!
It's not always easy, especially in colder weather - I find Summer so much easier to be up early. What I found worked for me was showering first and then doing my devotions - the morning shower isn't to cleanse me, just wake me up, even 30seconds under the water does the trick for me. Then I sit with my cuppa and read (I think God doesn't mind you having a coffee while you read) and then I pray...and like Melissa I write out my prayers in my journal. I used to fall asleep praying too. I just couldn't do it. I can continue my prayers to Him throughout the day in my head or out aloud (when I'm alone) but writing prayers out works so well for me.
Post a Comment