Mark 1:35 (NIV)

35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.

Genesis 28:16 (NIV)

16 When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it.”

It is scattered throughout the Scriptures, the promise that God is always with us. Where can we go from His presence (Ps 139:7)? Jesus promises us that He is with us always (Matt 28:20). We celebrate it every Christmas… Immanuel, God with us. But by the time the Christmas tree is taken down and the ornaments are put away we have forgotten that He came to stay. This week we remind ourselves that He is there. 

Life has a way of distracting us from God. It is easy to forget He is there. If we were honest, we would admit that we regularly ignore God. 

Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, “The early morning belongs to the church of the Risen Christ.” This week, we turn our attention to following the pattern that Jesus showed us in giving your first moments when you awaken to acknowledge the presence of God. He is there in the room waiting for you to get up and join Him. Like Jacob, we need a wakeup call to remind us that “when I awake, I am still with you.” (Ps 139:18) 

Your turn:

• The morning belongs to the Lord. He alone should get your first thoughts. 

• Leave your phone on the charger, any messages can wait for a moment.

• Before your foot touches the floor, take a moment to sit up in bed and say “Good morning, Abba. Good morning, Jesus. Good morning, Holy Spirit.”

• Thank Him for the opportunity to begin the day with Him. 

• Ask Him for the grace you will need to accomplish all that He has for you today. 

• Take a moment in silence and just receive.