"Caitlin Rooooseeee, it's time to waaaake uuupppp." I can so vividly
remember the way my mom would say that, I also recall how much I hated hearing it! It was like nails on a chalkboard.
I
mean really, who actually likes to be woken up? I remember my dad (who
spoiled me as I was the only child) was my human alarm clock and he
accommodated my crazy request of coming thirty minutes before I actually
needed to wake up and then come back again when it was a must. (This is
before the age of iPhone where you can just set your own multiple
alarms.) I hated the idea of waking up so much that I felt like this
concept was beating it! "Ha! I'll wake up when I want to!"
Who
doesn't hit the snooze button once, or twice, or fifteen times. (Yes,
I'm one of those... I can actually sleep through snoozing for a couple
hours.) The snooze button and I have been friends for quite some
time.
As much as you don't want to hear this (and neither do I on a typical day): it really is time to WAKE UP and say goodbye
to the snooze button. I know sleep is something that is so precious to
most of us (and rightly so, we need a good amount of it to function and
be the best version of ourselves.) But I have proven to myself time and
time again, that when I wake up just a little earlier than I need
to, just enough time to be still, to think about the things that matter
and spend time with the One who knows me better than I know myself....
EVERY little thing in my life will be better.
This is one
of my favorite quotes from an artist, Brian Andreas: "I've always liked
the time before dawn because there's no one around to
remind me who I'm supposed to be, so it's easier to remember who I am."
I know the "waking-up-earlier-than-you-have-to"
part is not fun and it doesn't sound appealing. Trust me, as a young
mom with two beautiful baby boys, the thought of waking up before them
sounds like pure stupidity. But just picture with me: complete
stillness, a grateful heart, no responsibilities or expectations from
anyone have begun for the day yet, a time to quiet your heart and mind
and just sit with you, yourself and I AM. I AM-- the Creator of the universe, the Lover of your soul, the perfect Father, the best Friend, and the list goes on.
Nothing
is more refreshing than some quiet time, coffee (it's a must for me!), a
journal, some music and the Word of Life. It's a time to gain
perspective, be grateful and just BE YOU without any expectations. Just
putting yourself before God and letting His presence make your day. (Psalm 27:4)* We
have so much that we carry with us day-to-day. (1 Peter 5:7, Psalm
55:22)* No matter what stage of life you're in. I promise it's the most
refreshing thing to start your day with Him. You'll never leave
thinking, "gosh... I wish I didn't do that this morning!" You'll always
want more.
And now this one I know you've probably
heard before, but sincerely.... Jesus did it. (Mark 1:35)* And I want to
follow His example and be more like Him. If He needed it, it helped
Him... than surely I need it and it will help me. We all could use a
little help.
Just try it. Please. Just for a week. Seven
days. You can do it. I promise it will be worth it. You'll be a better
YOU. You'll walk in a better world. He's on the throne already, but it's
so important for us to daily choose to give Him His place on the throne
of our hearts. (Hebrews 4:16)*
|
You snooze, you lose. OR. Wake up and live. |
I'd love to hear your stories of how it changed your day. So please share!
* Truth in Words
"One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek, inquire for, and [insistently] require: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord [in His presence] all the days of my life, to behold and gaze upon the beauty [the sweet attractiveness and the delightful loveliness] of the Lord and to meditate, consider, and inquire in His temple." (Psalm 27:4 AMP)
"Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully. (1 Peter 5:7 AMP)
"Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you." (Psalm 55:22 NLT)
"Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray." (Mark 1:35 NLT)
"Let us then fearlessly and confidently and
boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God’s unmerited
favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and
find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and
well-timed help, coming just when we need it]. " (Hebrews 4:16 AMP)
Labels: baby:mamas, choose life, Jesus, truth, wake up, world:changers