There is something special that happens in the early morning.
I admit I’m an early riser and if there’s anything I enjoy most, it’s that peaceful serenity that greets me before the world around me starts to awaken. A few years back, I joined a spring boot camp for a two-month stint. I got up at 4:45 a.m. three days a week in order to make it to the city on time for my workout. Leaving home with everyone still tucked into bed, driving on empty roads, seeing the sun rise in the land of living skies, and smelling the fresh, cool morning air was like balm for the soul.
It didn’t matter that my body was pushed to the limit as I tried desperately to keep up with lifetime athletes. It didn’t matter that I was super nervous to show up each and every day to learn moves that felt as though I was learning a foreign language. It didn’t matter that I had to get up so early and leave the warmth of my bed. I would arrive home around 7:30, the time when many would be rising to greet the dawn.
I felt like I’d lived a full and beautiful day already. It has been one of the most rewarding life experiences for me; unfortunately, at this time in my life, it is just not feasible for me to drive to the city three mornings a week to work out and, admittedly, I’d need to be in a lot better shape to ever begin to think I could stay with the pack at this point.
“In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.”
Not only can it be good for our emotional health and physical health, it is certainly beneficial for our spiritual health to spend time with the Lord is in the morning. It sets the tone for the day. I’ve heard it said, “How you start the day is how you’ll end it.” If we get a step on the day, we will be better prepared for what comes our way that day. A few minutes of meditation, being still and filling up on a word from The Word will set us up for high quality time that will pay off greatly in our day and life.
Practically, something I’ve noticed is that no matter what kind of weather that day would end up having; early mornings are almost always calm! We all know in this country how inspiring it is when there is no wind. You’ll notice if you get up with the birds, you’ll get to appreciate a calmness you may not experience in that day otherwise.
Speaking of birds, I’m reminded of my five-year-old nephew’s witty words when he was spending the night at his grandparents... I’ve shared it before but it’s worth sharing again because it is so cute. My nephew was an early morning riser so his grandpa tried to tell him to stay in bed a bit longer the next morning by mentioning that he shouldn’t get up with the birds. His response was, “I’m not going to get up with the birds, I’m going to wake the birds up!”
Maybe we should take his advice and embrace the early mornings.
Scripture reference: Psalm 5:3
