Nothing’s mine. I mean, really. Time isn’t “mine.” It’s on loan by grace from the One who holds the beginning and the end. That’s why I want to begin each day with His perspective.
I’ve learned this about myself in recent years. I do much better when I start my day with God — when I purposefully get up before our home gets loud and spend time with my Lord. I know it may sound like what “old church people” say but it’s true. I need to feast on my God before the demands of life feast on my sanity.
When I don’t, I have a tendency to set my own (sometimes color-coded) agenda and hit the ground running…often running right over the hearts of people I love. So I need to start the day focused on the One who makes the sun rise.
I recently read through the book of Nehemiah in my morning quiet, and one thing that challenged me was the giving of their firstfruits. (Nehemiah 10:35-39) God called them to give first to Him. The first of their crops, cattle, grain, wine, oil, oh and their first-born son. Basically everything.
But He didn’t call them to give because He’s some egotistical, needy, pagan idol. He doesn’t need anything. He just knows us perfectly. He knows how easily the lies tempt us. He knows how quickly we can worry or fear — forgetting who holds it all together. He knows that we need His perspective. He prompts us to give of our firstfruits so we remember that it’s all on loan by grace. Even “our” time.
And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, (Jesus) departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.
Mark 1:35
When I sit in my morning chair before the rest of the house wakes up, I do a few basic things to stir up His Spirit within me and to help set the course of my day.
- I remind myself of Who He is (and who I’m not). That just means I praise and thank Him. I speak truths about His character and recite some of His promises.
- I confess my “issues.” You know we’ve all got some issues. After I spend time focused on His awesomeness, I see my unawesomeness apart from Him. And I confess. He forgives.
- I voice my concerns to Him and ask for wisdom. He promises that if we give our anxious thoughts to Him, He will guard our hearts with peace. I cling to that one, friends.
- I read read from the Bible. I don’t mean that I just read the words from the Bible. I mean I try to really read from the Bible, like a conversation with God. I talk to Him about what I’m reading and trust that He’s speaking.
- I choose one verse or one truth to meditate upon that day. It’s what I take with me when I get up from that chair and enter into this busy world.
Some mornings it feels like He’s literally in the room with me. Other times I can barely keep my eyes open. Some seasons of life allow me time to linger before Him. While other seasons give me a few brief minutes. But every time I need it. I need Him…first. Because this day, and every minute in it, is His.
Fill me, Lord…
How else can we give the firstfruits of our time to Him?
If you’re having trouble finding your groove with a quiet time, you may want to check out a book I wrote wrote with Katie Orr called Savoring Living Water: How to have an effective quiet time.
What a great way to look at the importance of starting our day with the Lord! I’m participating in the HelloMornings Challenge for the first time this session, and while I’ve really come to enjoy the times I get to spend with Him first thing, I’ve never thought about it in the context of giving Him the firstfruits of my time — although most mornings I’m so tired, it sure feels like I’m giving Him some second-rate time because it’s so hard to focus. š Thanks for the encouragement to keep on with it!
I’m so glad you’re doing HelloMornings! That accountability has meant so much to my own life. I pray that He continues to bless your desire to rise early and start your day with Him.
I love #4. I remember a few years ago thinking how it changed my life as a Believer when I actually considered reading the Bible more than just reading, but studying just as I would any other important subject to me. Unfortunately, I’m not 100% on this, but man, when I do, it is amazing. Great advice here, Lara.
Thanks, Clare. None of us do it 100% but you are so right, when we read purposefully rather than to check it off of our list, He breathes life into us. What grace. (By the way, thanks for you exercise tips recently. š
Wrote a very similar post yesterday and included the Kept study and Hello Mornings as resources. You bless me immensely with your sacrifice to write.
God always does that with us! Funny. I will have to click over and read what He’s showing you. You’re a blessing, Kelli.
As I try to reorganize my life and declutter my thoughts I found this to be a wonderful place to start. Thanks for the tips and Thank you Lord for showing me what I did not know I was looking for
Wow. What a blessing, Margie. I trust He will show Himself mighty as you choose to give Him the “firstfruits.”
First time in HelloMornings for me…
And I’m so thankful for the renewed accountability.
I’m usually pretty good about spending time in God’s Word, but this has been a “first fruits” battle for me, so I really appreciate your posts.
I chose to join this session because I want those first moments of my day to be with Him and it’s a battle (like literally waging war against myself) not to get sidetracked and jump into “the day” (because those are the moments when the house is quiet and the kiddos are still sleeping).
Anyway–thankful for the group I’m in and for what you wrote in this post.
And God has been incredible this week to highlight verses that were clearly meant for my eyes on a daily basis…really specific to the circumstances of the week/my life.
I just love that.
This is something I have been thinking about more of late. While I have been focusing on having a Christ centred life, where He is a part of all that I do, I understand the need to have that focused time that is just his. I tell myself that I set my day like this but I need to be more deliberate about it. Love how you lay it out and the idea of having a morning chair.
I love this! Thank you so much!