How About 5:30???

PSALMS 5:3 "MY VOICE SHALT THOU HEAR IN THE MORNING, O LORD; IN THE MORNING WILL I DIRECT MY PRAYER UNTO THEE, AND WILL LOOK UP."

For any of you who haven't heard of the 5 AM club, I've included the link so that you can read more about it. I have recently stumbled across this challenge, and been dared, double-dared in my own conscience to DO IT!! It is something that has nagged at me for over a year, at least, but always been stuffed way back in the darkest corners of my mind. Bedtime around this house with 4 young adults who are night owls and a husband who works nights has far too long been my excuse NOT to rise "early".
Now, with a new and very motivated desire to see stronger discipline in my life in ALL areas, I feel absolutely ready to begin. Change is never easy. I know this. But it takes desire in your heart before you can really conquer the borders of your own comfort zones. It really isn't going to work, or have staying power if you attempt it for the wrong reasons.
I don't want to make myself get up before the sun rises, just to feel like I'm being super-spiritual for having a pre-dawn "quiet time." That would turn my action more into legalism; doing something for the approval of God and feelings of accomplishment in my own journey of sanctification.

No. I just want to do this because I have been challenged by some of my Christian sisters out there. I feel the strong desire of my heart to do this simply because I want to spend more time with my Lord. And truly I find when I get up before anyone else in my house and have this sweet time of conversation with Abba, my Father, it SO makes a difference in my day and activities and whatever circumstances arise, expected or unexpected.

The trials we as a family have faced in the last two years, and the path they have led my spiritual footsteps to walk on has literally pushed me into the dark places where Jesus was just waiting to give me comfort and a little more light. My relationship with Him has grown into a most intimate fellowship. I did not know how shallow the expressions of my love for Christ had become. It is in the early morning minutes when a new day is starting, and a new sun is visible from my dining room window, that it feels "prime time" to turn and see Him there, waiting on me, just as He was the day before. HE fills me up with His love and strength to face the coming hours.

For that reason alone, I desire to rise just a little bit earlier, and have a little more time to spend with Him. I WANT to do this. That is the BEST reason I can think of to join the 5 AM club, (or a little later) The desire should not be just to "rise early," so that you can be with God. You can be with God at any stolen moment during your day. Yes? The desire should be that you long to have extra, quiet, solitary time with the Lover of your Soul; so much so that you can't wait to have that early time with nobody else around. Just the two of you. An intentional morning "date". :-)

Maybe somebody out there will read this and be challenged. :-) If you decide to give it a try, let me know! A partner for accountability! Yes!

http://girltalk.blogs.com/girltalk/2006/01/the_500_club.html

If you don't have time to read the post from above, I would at least post the following quote from the body of that day's message.... very inspiring.

Referring to Bible reading and prayer, John Piper says: “I earnestly recommend that it be in the early morning, unless there are some extenuating circumstances. Entering the day without a serious meeting with God, over his Word and in prayer, is like entering the battle without tending to your weapons. The human heart does not replenish itself with sleep. The body does, but not the heart. We replenish our hearts not with sleep, but with the Word of God and prayer.”

JEREMIAH 29:12,13 - "Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

And while you're at it, here's a song to get your "worship pulse" moving!
Blessings.