Early mornings have been my favorite of times this summer. I joke with others that I must be getting older because I go to bed with the chickens and get up with them too! Now I can appreciate and understand the reason my Pawpaw did this everyday. I loved spending summer weeks at my grandparents chicken farm. Pawpaw would get up around four to spend time with God before he would tend to the chickens, and I would sometimes sneak into the kitchen to sit with him. I didn’t always understand why he got up so early when I was a small child, but I loved hearing him pray. He would pray some of the most sincere prayers. He would arise with the Lord, and end his day with the Lord. There was no doubt in my mind that he walked in God’s spirit all day long, and this was due to his early mornings with the Lord.
Trust me though. I did not choose to wake up at five in the morning every morning during my summer. And coyotes killed my chickens and roosters. So, it had to be God waking me up because summer as a teacher is my time to try and sleep in until at least seven. However, every morning I was up by five. Waylon would get up with me and we would enjoy a cup of coffee while studying God’s word. It has become a time that we have kept and when we go without it, our day doesn’t run as smoothly.
We have just finished the book of Daniel, and one of the most valuable lessons God has given me is right in the midst of a very well known story of the fiery furnace. God gives His children so many promises and one of those promises is deliverance. I love how Shadrack, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered King Neb when he asked, “Who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?” They responded, “We have no need to answer you in this matter, our God whom we serve will deliver us.” Then of course later they said “but if not, let it be known to you, O king, we do not serve your gods or this image you have set up.” Charles Spurgeon explained it this way, “God will deliver His children either from death or in death. Do not judge the situation by the threat or what you are going thru, but by an everlasting God and the eternal life that awaits you.” I love this! We have God’s promise that if we hang on He is waiting for us. He will deliver us from whatever threat we are facing or help us in any unbearable circumstance. Psalm 8:9-10, “The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; for You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.” My brother said something in his sermon a few weeks ago that went along with this. He said to tie a knot and hang on. My rope has at least a hundred knots, but my God has never failed me. So, I look at those knots from time to time to help me remember that no matter how hard it may seem, God will deliver me. He will deliver you as well.
So many wonderful times this summer, but my favorite were those early mornings. Thank you Lord for Your word, Your promises, and the early mornings I get to spend with You and my love. Amen.
