How should Christians start their day?
While reading this post by Arabah Joy, I realized that I’m not alone in struggling to maintain my relationship with God. She wrote, “The older I get, the more I find that focusing on Christ takes intentionality.” A hundred times yes to this!
With that in mind, you need to know two things about me:
- I am not a morning person.
- I tend to be very literal.
What do you do first thing in the morning? Make a hearty breakfast for your family? Go for a run? Take blankets to the homeless? If that’s you, I’m pretty sure we can’t be friends. Frankly, I’m thinking you wouldn’t be reading this blog if that’s you. OK, going for a run people, maybe.
My first thing in the morning is thinking about how much longer I can actually stay in bed before I have to get up. My “this-describes-me-exactly” Pinterest board has multiple versions of that exact thought.
These two seemingly unrelated statements are actually the basis for how I intentionally spend time focused on God each day.
Initially, as I was searching for a better way to be consistent in my relationship with Jesus, I came across Matthew 6:33.
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need.
That’s the New Living translation, the one I usually read. It reminded me, though, of the King James version, that I memorized in my young Bible drill days (anyone remember Bible drills?).
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Remember I said I was literal.
If I don’t LITERALLY seek the kingdom of God first thing in the morning, I probably won’t seek Him at all.
I’m not saying I won’t pray during the day, because I do. I’m not saying I won’t make choices based on what I believe as a Christ-follower, because for the most part, I do. I’m not saying I won’t treat others as I want to be treated, because I try to do that every day.
I’m saying that if I wake up in the morning and don’t go straight into meaningful, forget-about-the-rest-of-life-for-a-moment-prayer and Bible study, I have to be honest and admit I won’t even think about it until I go to bed that night, if at all.
Because my days are full, like yours. For me it’s…time to leave for school…and there’s not a moment of down-time most days until 4 or 5 or 6, …then we’re heading home or off to kid activities and oh, yeah, people at my house like to eat, I wonder what we’re doing for supper, …then the kids have homework and I have homework and it’s time to prepare for tomorrow and ….get the idea? Your details may be different than mine, but life is hectic.
So what does this look like, this whole “seek ye first” thing? For me, it means that I don’t check Facebook, Instagram, email, whatever might be vying for my attention that morning, until I’ve read my Bible and a daily devotional. I literally make myself open the Bible Gateway app before I open any other app on my phone each day. While I’m having breakfast, I pray. In all honesty, this is my weakest point of the morning, but I’m not giving up.
And what’s that about?? I mean, why in the world, should I be coaxed into time with God? Two words.
Spiritual warfare.
Think about it.
The God of all the universe, Creator, Savior…He wants to spend time with me. Wouldn’t I be crazy not to WANT to spend time with Him?
Wouldn’t you? And yet, …
It’s hard.
It shouldn’t be, but it is. So, despite the fact that I am so NOT a morning person, I am striving to “seek Him first” in the morning, whether I’m getting up at my usual 5:45 or any time.
Paul said it best…
A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
How about you? How do you intentionally seek God?
Many thanks to minimography for the use of their image.
