Pensees: Morning Priority*

I don’t know that this is a point worth raising here because I agree with your mindset, but . . .

I had my time with the Lord first thing in the morning for YEARS. But then I had a baby. Since then, I have found that evening time is more uninteruppted and peaceful for having devotions. As one older lady said, there are seasons in life.

But I surely agree with all your points. Anyway . . .
:o)

A young infant in the house definitely makes devotions difficult any time of the day, since a schedule and a baby don’t go very well together, not to mention the sheer exhaustion that a mother faces for many months. I, too, have struggled with the perfect time for devotions since our first child was born. Lately, I have been desirous of returning to morning devotions. I have rejoiced during the last few weeks to see God assist me with this endeavour. He has awakened me (not an alarm clock) while the children are still sleeping and then caused them to sleep long enough for me to have sufficient time. Since our schedule isn’t always the same and the children do not rise at the same time every day, it has been just plain fun to see God work this way from day to day. God is doing His part of the deal. My remaining challenge is to truly deny self daily and get out of bed! ”Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4

I would have to stay I’m in the same boat with you. It has been hard to be “steady” about anything with young children in the house. But I can tell you this that the days that I am disciplined to do my devotions in the morning and pray for patience and wisdom in raising my children are the days that I am the best mom. I often think of the many times I’ve heard great men of God say that because had had so much to do they spent even more time with God. Anytime with God, morning or evening, is of great importance and that is really what should be remembered and cherished.

I struggle with steadiness with early rising, period, since I’m definitely a night owl. (And I don’t even have young children yet!) I remember in college it occurred to me that if I hit that snooze button on my alarm clock, the first decision of my day would be one that gave in to the flesh! Whether that’s an exaggeration of reality, I don’t know, but it still pricks my conscience nowadays when I hit that snooze button and opt for more indulgence instead of rising to set myself up for quality morning time with the Lord. I’m yielding ground to my flesh instead of walking in the Spirit. I want the first decision(s) of my day to be Godward, not me-oriented. Pastor’s right about that deliberate decision being a testimony to proper affections.

I sympathize. And lest there be an undue amount of anxiety about the “morning” aspect of devotions, I must point out that there seems to be no mandate in Scripture, including Psalm 63:1, that the first duty of the day should be devotions. In fact, it ought to be pointed out that the word “early” in Ps. 63:1 contains more the idea of prioritization and earnestness than time.

Nonetheless, we reveal to our own souls our priorities by our schedule. When our time in the Word is postponed to the latest hour when we are groggiest, it is hard to convince even our deluded selves that time in the Word is really that valuable to our souls.

I often pray for the mothers in our church particularly. They have particular challenges. But happy the woman who overcomes.

I think the principle is very good. I (and my entire family) are in the night owl category. Though I do not have this area addressed the way I’d like yet, I do believe the concept that Pastor Bob refers to does reflect our heart. Psa 5:3-4 seems to indicate the priority aspect reflected in the time of day in which we seek the Lord:

“My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD; In the morning I will direct [it] to You, And I will look up. For You [are] not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness, Nor shall evil dwell with You.” (NKJV)

The “For” in verse 4 seems to juxtapose seeking God in the morning with those who do not who are wicked (evidenced by ignoring God first thing?).

As Pastor Bob states this is not a command, but certainly it is an attitude which we each need at the very least. This is not a definitive or legalistic list of activities to check off, but certainly a requirement to wake with our hearts directed to the Lord.

Thanks for the prick.

Kevin Subra - bi-vocational pastor in Iowa, and happy father of 14