I thought about doing it on the first day. Too chicken.
I thought about doing it after a week. Not convinced.
I thought about posting it Monday. But I just didn't.
But today I will.
With great hesitation and humility.
Mostly because I remember November 3, 2005. and November 25, 2005.
You probably don't. So I will refresh your memory.
If you were reading my blog way back then, you may remember that I posted this little pic...
and I proclaimed that I was determined to beat my snooze button. To spend some quality time with Jesus in the morning hours.
Well. sigh. Here I am, some 14 months later.
Satan loves to remind me of my previous failures in this area.
But I am choosing to listen to God's voice that reminds me of mercies made new and things that are possible through Him that are not possible on my own. Like (in my life) an early morning quiet time.
So....
Three weeks ago I started fresh.
Trying to get to bed early (those who know me much at all, know that some of my most productive hours were usually between midnight and 2 a.m.!!). AND SETTING MY ALARM FOR 5:15.
January 7.
It was a great morning.
I spent an hour....an hour!!...digesting God's word (and a mocha!!) and begging God to draw me near to Him.
And then I hopped on my treadmill with the sounds of "Glory Revealed" blaring in my earphones.
And I haven't looked back since.
I tell you this....NOT WITH A SINGLE OUNCE OF PRIDE...with a very acute awareness of my ability to "start strong" and then "fizzle out". Great starts are usually not my problem....it is the follow through that trips me up. But I am continuing to beg God for His strength and perseverance. And He has been so faithful to bless me.
My prayer has also been that my time with Jesus would be about RELATIONSHIP, not religion. It is so easy to get wrapped up in the "doing quiet time" and miss drawing near to Him. But that is what I really want. That is really the point of it all. I want to start my day WITH Jesus...and hopefully then, throughout the day, continue to walk more closely with Him.
So far, so good.
Stay tuned.
I better hurry and post this before I chicken out and remember that 14 months from now you might actually remember this post.....but, then again...accountablility is a good thing, right??!!!
4 comments:
You go girl! But, wow. 5:15! If you knew what time I "aimed" to get up at you would feel SO good about yourself! What time are you going to bed now?
Question: what is "glory revealed?" I have been working out with my ipod lately and have found that most of my favorite songs are slow. So I am in desperate need of good high energy workout songs. What else do you recommend.
Stacy just helped me figure out bloglines so now I can know when you post and can actually read what you write when you write it! And comment. What a concept --I know!
That is so cool Michelle!!! I am so proud of you for being open to God's nudging and not letting Satan steal it from you by focusing on your last attempt! You are right, God is a God of mercy! He wants us to keep pushing forward!
Wow, I'm impressed! I know God doesn't care what time of day we come to him, however I'm doing a Beth Moore study right now, and she's challenged us to come before God every MORNING(for 30 days) face down in prayer, literally! What a difference it makes! How is that we experience such wonderful things from God in those quiet moments, and then let satan creep in and pull us away from something so awesome. Something that our soul could not live without. If someone were pulling me away from chocolate would I fight harder? Beth says to always pray for us to love NOTHING more than Christ and to always come to him hungry!
amber
I,too am so impressed with your commitment, I definitely know the sacrifice you are making every night, and the rewards that you are reaping every morning. Keep it up! Thanks for being such a good example and accountability partner for me!!
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