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| Photo by Pam Williams |
“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.”
Mark 1:35
I totally
understand why Jesus got up while it was still dark to pray. Early, early morning
is my favorite time of day. I love these moments of just God and me. I can hear
His voice, I can see into my soul, I can understand better what changes I need
to make, and I can discern more clearly the path I need to follow for the rest
of the day.
Part of the
reason I love the pre-dawn is the lack of distractions. No one else is up—not even
the cat. It will be several hours before I need to be on my way to work or the
church or to the grocery store. There are no tasks that require my immediate
attention. My only obligation is to give Jesus my full attention.
Another plus
is the absence of noise—no dishwasher or clothes dryer running, no texts or
calls beeping to announce their arrival, no footsteps treading overhead. Even
the traffic on the busy nearby highway is light at this hour. I can play quiet
instrumental music as background if I want or I can enjoy total silence.
It is an
atmosphere and ambiance I cannot find at any other time of the day or night. For
me, it is exactly what I need to link up with God in a real and time-stopping
way.
Not everyone
is a morning person though. I haven’t always been an early riser. But since I
began this practice, it has become a precious, spiritual lifeline for me.
We all need
those intentional moments when we shut out the world around us and turn all our
attention to God. I would love to hear when and how that happens for you. Can you
share a bit in the comments section?
Blessings!
Pam
