~Quiet time with God~

My favorite time of day, early in the morning. I set the little coffee pot up the day before. In the morning I turn it on, and in no time I pour my mug of vanilla coffee with milk, curl up on the corner of the couch, and read my Bible.

I also read from a devotional book. I have been reading "My Utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers for 2 years. It's an excellent book that I HIGHLY recommend! I used a gift card from Christmas from my grandma to buy myself a new daily devotional. Now I am daily learning from A.W. Tozer's "Mornings with Tozer". Another great man of God full of wisdom for us to glean.

I am also currently reading:

This book is full of lessons we can learn from George Muller, a man of faith! His close walk with God and unshakable trust in God's provision are something I want to have. So, today I was encouraged yet again, by his words of wisdom on spending time with God every morning.

He said if we tithe the best of our earnings to God, shouldn't we be giving him the best part of our day as well?

"I want to encourage all believers to get into the habit of rising early to meet God...

It may be said, 'but how shall I set about raising early?' My advice is: Do not delay. Begin tomorrow. But do not depend on your own strength. You may have begun to rise early in the past but have given it up. If you depend on your own strength in this matter, it will come to nothing. In every good work we must depend on the Lord. If anyone rises so that he may give time which he takes from sleep to prayer and meditation, let him be sure that satan will try to put obstacles in his way.

Trust in the Lord for help. You will honor Him if you expect help from Him in this matter. Pray for help, expect help, and you will have it."

The Autobiography of George Muller, chapter12

God loves to spend time with His children! He loves to speak to you, to fill your heart with His peace and joy. He is waiting for you to come and be still before Him.

Sometimes I wake up late, think of all I need to do that day, and pass up my time with my Father, because I am too "busy". On those days I find myself irritable, and trying so hard in my own strength to get things done and check off my "to-do-lists".

In the story of Mary and Martha, I had a hard time because if Martha didn't get the work done, who would?! Somebody had to do it! But one day I asked God to give me understanding about this. He showed me something I hadn't seen before. It said "Martha was distracted by all the preparations that needed to be done." It wasn't that the work wasn't necessary, but it was a distraction. A distraction from what was REALLY important, spending time in the presence of Jesus! I learned from that revelation from the Lord, anything I do that is "good", if it distracts me from God, it is not even worth doing!

Now, if I am submitting myself to God, if I am trully doing all those "good" things with Him in mind. If He is working through me, rather than my trying to do my little things for Him, then it is worth doing and will reap a harvest! And I will have all the strength, patience, and love I need! Then it is no longer a distraction to me, but my focus is on God, and it is part of my living for Him.

The best part of the day for me, are those early mornings when I rise and make it my first priority, before the ups and downs of the day hit, to sit before God, and grow in the grace and Knowledge of my Lord Jesus Christ.