Mornings with God

I steal down the stairs under the cover of darkness, treading on silent steps so not to wake my sleeping house. I can barely see through the pre-dawn haze of my sleepy eyes.  With Bible in hand, I set the coffee dripping and head to my quiet corner of the couch where I know He is waiting for me.  We're silent at first, He and I, alone in this place.  My mind is still heavy with sleep, slow to form even the simplest thought, but the day ahead looms large, and my thoughts wander to what it will hold.  For sure there will be quarreling kids and carpool lines, dirty dishes and mountains of laundry.  My nerves will wear thin and my tongue will lash, and I'll regret it instantly.  Time will escape me, and the day will sink low, and I'll be reminded of all that I didn't get done this day.  The ever-present voice of failure, the one that sounds so much like my own, will lurk in the quiet recesses of my mind, waiting for the opportune moment to speak its harsh words into my heart. It won't be easy to quiet that voice; it speaks loud, and its echo lingers.

Just as my devotion grows tired and my thoughts grow weary at the prospect of the day, God awakens me to His voice.  A light in the darkness, He rouses my slumbering soul and gives me words to speak, the praise from my humble heart bowed in worship to the One who has numbered my days and gives purpose to them all.  He meets me there on these mornings, before the sun has opened its eyes to my side of the world, and He waits for me to be still and know that He is God, to know that He is with me, to know that the sound of His voice will drown out all the others if only I will hearken to it.  He knows the mess of who I am, but He reminds me of who He is: He is God Almighty and He is Immanuel, He is my Creator, Redeemer, Savior, and Friend, and this very day bows down to Him who called it into existence.  And I belong to Him. 

He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught.  Isaiah 50:4

Today's post was written in conjunction with Joanne Ellison's wonderful series for the next eight weeks, Making Space for God Mondays.  Each Monday from now through February, Joanne will have a short video teaching on how to make space for God in the key areas of our lives.  Today's topic was "Making Space Each Morning".  Joanne is a wonderfully gifted speaker, teacher, and writer, and I was so blessed to have attended her most recent bible study right here in my own hometown.  Happy to be linking up with her and joining her on-line community!