5:32 AM

November 2, 2018

I'm not a morning person.

But in spite of that, I've made a habit of getting up early to read the Bible and talk to God. It tunes my heart to the Lord's ways. It prepares me to love people better. Let's just say it: preschoolers take patience. Spending time in God's Word helps my attitude towards my little students be more pleasing to Him. So I get up early to read the Bible because I want to. And I get up early to read the Bible because I need to. 

But then my son joined jazz band. Which meets an hour before school starts. Now I get up at the same time, 6:00 AM, but there's no time to read my Bible. I start waking my son and getting breakfast ready and getting dressed and gathering my lunch... I drive him to school at 7:00 AM and then I go back home to make sure my daughter is getting ready for school and I put on my makeup and brush my teeth and feed the dog... I drive her to school just before 8:00 AM and I head to work at the preschool. 

I tell you all of this to show that ain't nobody got time to read the Bible when their son has jazz band!

This week has been super busy. I could feel how thin my patience was with the preschoolers. I was really grumpy and stressed. And I knew it wasn't just sleep that I was lacking. I was spiritually exhausted too. Too many days in a row without any alone time with God and His Word. 

Wednesday was Halloween, so of course we all went to bed late that night. I told God, "I just can't set my alarm for any earlier than 6:00. But if You want to wake me up to read my Bible, Lord, I'll get up. It would need to be about 5:30 if I want time with You before waking Isaiah."

And then I fell asleep. Exhausted. 

I heard something. I remember I stirred when I heard my dog panting in the hallway. I was irritated. I glanced at the clock. She never woke up so early! Ughhhh. I snuggled in and mentally willed her to BE QUIET! I heard her pacing the hall. I stubbornly thought I was not going to let her ruin my last bit of sleep! I. Snuggled. In.

And then I remembered: Last night while we were watching TV, Seth and I heard her guzzling water from her bowl. Lapping like crazy. She never does that. We said, "Geez, Abby! Super thirsty!" And when I remembered this and it dawned on me that my sweet, old dog was pacing the hallway because she needed to pee, I jumped out of bed and let her out into the backyard. Then I headed back to my room on a mission to dive back under the covers and reclaim my last bit of sleep. 

Until I recalled my own words: "If You want to wake me up to read my Bible, Lord, I'll get up. It would need to be about 5:30..."

I checked the clock. 

5:32 AM.

!!!!

He did just what I asked! My dog never does that, you guys. Don't even try to tell me it was a coincidence. 

So I turned on the light with a smile on my face in spite of getting way too little sleep. I got my coffee. I got my Bible. And Jesus and I spent some long overdue time together. 

And afterwards I faced the day with a song in my heart. His Word renews me. It felt like I took a deep, cleansing breath of fresh air after being cooped up too long. Not to mention, the God of the Universe woke me up because He wanted to spend time with me! Do you know how treasured that made me feel? Sometimes His love feels like a blanket. I just need to snuggle in.

What about you? How long has it been since you started your day with Jesus?

"Draw near to God and he will draw near to you."

James 4:6