wake me with the morning light

Now I lay me down to sleep
I pray the Lord my soul to keep
Your love be with me through the night
and wake me with the morning light.
Amen

I'm sure most of us remember our bedtime prayer or at least a bedtime prayer from when you were a child. The one above is what I have taught my daughter, and when I was typing it, I could just hear her sweet little voice and I know that God grins from ear to ear each and every time she prays that little prayer. I'm so glad that we serve such a tender, loving God that loves my children more than I will ever be able to fathom!

Now, why would I post that bedtime prayer at 10:30 am?

Check out that last line? "and wake me with the morning light." Other songs I've heard say "'til morning light."

Morning...UGH! I'm just not a morning person. So for most of my adult life, I sleep until I absolutely must get out of bed. I hit snooze 5 times and even set my alarm fast so that I might trick myself into actually getting up on time. HA! WHAT A JOKE!

So after my fantastic weekend with God, I decided I need to be deliberate about the choices that I make for a positive change to occur in my life. This must begin with the morning light!

So for the past two days (I admit, I didn't start right away on Monday!) I have been up long before I usually am. I have woken up and completed my 20-something-minute exercise video (30 Day Shred, that'll get your blood pumpin') and then jumped in the shower, make-up, blow dry, straighten, dress, get kids up & ready, and then out the door to work I go.

Now, I listen to my praise music and an audio devotion in my car on my way to work, BUT that is after I've done everything else. Check out these scriptures and see just how specific they are! 

In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice;

in the morning I lay my requests before you

and wait expectantly.

Psalm 5:3

It is good to praise the LORD

and make music to your name,

O Most High,

to proclaim your love in the morning

and your faithfulness at night,

Psalm 92:1-2

And I—in righteousness I will see your face;

when I awake, I will be satisfied

with seeing your likeness.

Psalm 17:15

Sow your seed in the morning...

Ecclesiastes 11:6a 

But I will sing of Your strength,

in the morning I will sing of Your love;

for You are my fortress,

my refuge in times of trouble.

Psalm 59:16 

In the morning...when I awake...in the morning...in the morning...in the morning....

It's like HELLO! ARE YOU GETTING THIS YET!

Even if it is while I am working out, showering, blow drying, bathing kids, making lunches, putting on my make-up, I should be speaking with my Heavenly Daddy. Emptying myself of self, asking to be filled up with the Holy Spirit so that I might spill over on someone throughout the day. I should be praying God's Word that I have diligently been working on hiding in my heart- reciting my memory verses over and over...

And to go above that, before I ever move a single sleepy muscle out of bed, I should be praising Him for allowing me another day to serve Him. And in order to make this happen, make this change stick, I must be deliberate. Self-Disciplined.

I need to want to wake up before the sun rises,

just so I can meet with the Lord.

So, tomorrow morning when I awaken to the tune of Mandisa & TobyMac singing "Good Morning", my first breath will be in thanksgiving to God for another day, and for the ministry that He has commissioned to me.

Bedtime prayers tonight will take on a new meaning!!!

Lord, I'm so excited for You to wake me with the morning light! Thank You for Your mercy and grace!