I'm a work in progress. I have been for a long time. You'd figure after almost 20 years of ministry that I would have the best devotional life, right? Wrong. Don't get me wrong. I love God's scriptures. I'm a Bible journaler, worship singer (loudly in the car to many songs based on Scripture), and a Sunday morning note taking fool. We pray often in our family, enjoy spiritual conversations, etc. But as far as a consistent, "daily" time with the Lord---for me that has been MIA. I've struggled. I've wanted to have this time. However, the exhaustedness (is that a word?) of the day prevents me from staying up to complete it in the evening. While I was a stay at home mom, mid-day nap time was suppose to be pivotal for me getting my quiet time in, and sometimes I did--but a lot of the time I filled the time with phone calls, checking my emails/facebook account, chores, and let's be honest---I napped myself. I do enjoy sleep. Which brings me to the morning, I will choose sleep over all. Honestly, I rarely wear make-up. I sleep a little longer. I don't make breakfast or drink coffee. I sleep a little longer. I don't read the newspaper. I sleep a little longer. So I sleep till the last minute I possibly can in order to get dressed, look somewhat presentable, and head out the door. Until recently.
In a challenge group of mine we were listing some goals for the month and I had heard of the First 5 app from a friend who was loving it. I also have loved She Reads Truth, an app that has great devotions as well. But what is different about First 5 is that it literally is my alarm clock. It wakes me up to to some fun music and blinds me with it's bright white screen. ( I mean "hurt your eyes, blinding light at 6: something in the morning"). And straight from the app: "The vision of First 5 was developed by Proverbs 31 Ministries in order to connect your heart to God's Word the First 5 minutes of your day. First 5 will wake you up with a short teaching first thing in the morning, so you can exchange whispers with God before shouts with the world." Let's face it, there are lots of "shouts" from the world. And for almost 2 months I've been doing it, daily during the work week. Already getting up earlier on a daily basis for my teaching job (adulting is hard work, right?) than I have been in 10+ years, I added this to my first moments of the day.
Now, granted it is only 5 minutes or so. It can be more. You can go even deeper. But I am here to argue that conistent for the first time in a long time can be equally as deep. A deep understanding that I truly do need these first moments of my day to be Christ-seeking. A deeper understanding that when I do this small act, I've invited the Holy Spirit to be a part of my life and thought processes for the day. And perhaps the deepest understanding, that my Father in heaven deserves no less from me.
Now the weird thing is that since it is literally an alarm clock, you can still hit the snooze button.Your choices are to snooze or read. So I didn't think anything of it at first, but then when telling friends about the app, I made a startling realization that I was SNOOZING JESUS! I'm happy to report that before my feet hit the floor I am having a moment with the Lord. However, I cannot tell a lie, I still do hit the snooze button every now and then. I'm a work in progress.***Today's devo confirmed this need for my first moments of the day to be with the Lord. I heard a quote recently that can be applied to many areas of my life--"Breakthrough begins when excuses ends." I hope that you never hear me say, "I'm not a morning person" in relation to why I can't start my day off with Jesus. I have used that excuse for quite awhile and I'm ready for my breakthrough! How about you? I know many of my friends have wonderful quiet times. I hope to encourage those that have struggled, maybe as long as I have. Here's "A Date at Daybreak" from First5.
