We wake up every morning with the same thought: We want to sleep a little bit more! So we press the “snooze” button and rationalize that there are still some more minutes to spare.
Finally, we jump out of our beds to start our morning routine. Amidst the rush, we oftentimes bypass the most important habit to prepare for a full day: Quiet Time with the Lord.
Beginning the day with God sets us up to experience His guidance and presence throughout the day.
My wife and I have experienced many blessings when we meditated on bible verses in the morning. Those passages guided us through tough situations and ill-tempered people that we encountered that very same day.
If we didn’t have our quiet time, we might have reacted in a manner that didn’t honor God. Starting the day with Him reminds us to depend on the all-powerful God for the rest of the day.
As human beings, we have several limitations that draw us toward complete reliance on Him.
Knowing these will make us realize we cant go on with our day without first going to Him:
- We have Limited Time
We only have 24 hours in a day. It’s difficult to manage our time with our various responsibilities. Furthermore, other people have expectations and demands from us that we need to keep up with.
God helps us make the most of our time. He leads us to determine what to prioritize, defer, delegate or dismiss. In this way, we can be most effective.
- We have Limited Energy
Even if we fit everything in our schedule, we don’t have unlimited physical and mental energy. As humans, we get tired and drained too.
God gives us the strength of mind and body to face a challenging day. Without Him, we can get tired, sick or easily distressed.
- We have Limited Wisdom and Understanding
Our experiences and training help us become better in what we do. But in an ever-changing and unpredictable world, we never fully know what willl happen next.
Our God wants to give His wisdom so we can make decisions which will honor Him the most. He wants us to choose that which is right, not necessarily what is popular.
- We have Limited Resources
Many times, we know the right thing to do. However, we are hindered by our lack of resources such as finances, contacts, or capabilities. We’re not the best at everything.
Through God, He’ll provide all that we need if we ask Him. He will surprise us where those resources will suddenly come from so we can fulfill our tasks.
- We have Limited Perspective
The pressures of everyday make us focus on what needs to be done now and in the near future. We desire what’s best for ourselves and our loved ones.
But God wants us to have an eternal perspective. Everything we do must be to bring Honor to His name. He wants us to live for Him, not for ourselves.
- We have Limited Years
We have one life to live and then, our time is up. God gave us life as a gift. We should use it the way He wants us to.
Opportunities are there everyday to bring people to the Lord. We want to encourage them to seek Him. We must wake up daily, having that sense of purpose and urgency. That’s why we must depend on the Lord from the moment we wake up.
The more we realize our limitations, the more we will start the day in full surrender and dependence on Him. When we do this, we are able to honor God more during our waking hours.
Take up the challenge of waking up 15 minutes earlier beginning tomorrow!
Proverbs 3:5-6
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”
Discussion Question: From the list, what limitation is motivating you to start the day depending on the Lord? Share your inputs below.