Before the Dawn

Life continues to give me lessons.  It's a shame that I have to relearn them sometimes.

I used to get up before dawn and spend time with God...reading the Bible, thinking, praying, listening.  It was quiet and uninterrupted time and truly helped me put God first...put God "before the Dawn".

I don't know what led me away from that time. I guess it was changes in life.  I didn't need to wake before the children because I would never have a time alone if I didn't.  I, in fact, felt like I needed the extra sleep since my job needed more energy now and my children seemed to keep me up later as they got older.  And yet, there was no other time as focused as that morning time seemed to be.

As I sit here today at 11:00...right in the middle of breakfast cooking, movies playing, laundry chores.... I realize once again....you have to be prepared before the chaos starts.  That's the key....I'll say it again....You have to be PREPARED before the chaos starts.  You cannot become grounded once the ground starts moving.  You cannot get a handle on the issues, when you are in the middle of the issues.  I have trouble "seeing through" the activity, to find God, if I haven't put Him beside me before the activity starts.

I encourage you to prepare yourself as well.  I ask for prayers that I may find the energy to renew that old habit of getting up before the dawn of a new day. I encourage you to study and learn and pray and build habits that will sustain you when the chaos of life hits.  Build your foundation before the storms hit.  Renew your energies each night and your focus each day!