“And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he [Jesus] departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.” – Mark 1:35 ESV
What if there really is a hidden spiritual value in quiet, early mornings? I’ve been asking myself this question recently, and I am afraid that the answer might be, “Yes.”
After some recent dental surgery, my schedule turned upside down. Sleeping on the sofa and wrestling with a little pain and discomfort made it very difficult to keep my normal routine. I found I needed sleep in the middle of my day and, unfortunately, I was awake early in the morning. Rising before dawn with little to do and nothing worth watching on television, I began to give some more concentrated time to reading my Bible and to prayer. This led to more reflection, journaling and, ultimately, to some significant spiritual growth.
All of this was a huge departure from my typical preference and action. I once saw a piece of artwork that captured my life motto when it came to early mornings. Across the background of a beautiful sun-filled landscape were the words, “If God wanted us to see the sunrise, he would have scheduled it later in the day.” All I can say is, “Amen!” Yet, I cannot miss the impact these recent early mornings made on my spiritual life.
As I read the Gospels, it seems Jesus frequently arose early and went off to pray. While I always recognized this highlighted the significance of prayer, I attributed the early mornings to Jesus being a “morning person.” Since God did not make me that way, I adapted my prayer life to fit the schedule of my personality. I am beginning to believe, there was more to Jesus’ timing than I first understood.
Time with God at the start of the day, engages our spirit before the rest of life and the world have an opportunity to intrude on our thoughts. Here, before the needs of family, work, and a myriad of distractions beg for our attention, we can engage God with an undivided focus. In those early moments, there is nothing we must do, leaving a block of uninterrupted time to savor the presence of God.
These early moments also shape our thoughts and our day. Instead of diving into the chaos of the news or being sucked into the business of the our schedule, we can wait upon God to give us heaven’s perspective on our life and our plans. If we pause long enough, the heartbeat of our lives will begin to embrace the rhythm of the heart of God.
When Jesus went out on those early mornings, he went in the dark to a deserted place, and there he prayed. Free from all distractions, he gave God his full, undivided attention. Here, his life and ministry reclaimed the imprint of the Almighty, and set the agenda for what really mattered. Imagine the impact these times had on Jesus’ ministry. Imagine the impact they could have on ours.
In my next post, I will share the impact I am beginning to see as a result of these early times of meditation. For now, I pray you will consider what God might do in, and through you, if your day began soaking in undistracted attention to God’s divine presence. If this is already a part of your spiritual practice, I would love to hear your experiences in the comments.
Be blessed as you seek to experience and share the loving heart of God!
