On Mornings, Part 1
Life wasn’t created to be effortless. It can’t be. Every step forward, every word spoken – they take effort.
So perhaps effortless isn’t the goal. Perhaps faith is. Faith and work and growth and intention. And the decision to make that choice each and every morning, with great, great effort in our human, finite minds.
Erin Loechner
Below is a collection of people in the Bible who got up early. My hope is that when you read these scriptures for yourself & understand the context of the story, you’ll notice a pattern. You’ll notice why.
people in the Bible who got up early:
ABE WANTED TO SEE WHAT HAD BECOME OF HIS PRAYERS.
Genesis 19:27 - Abraham went early in the morning to the place where he had stood before the Lord.
JACOB had a profound dream the night before and sensed God’s presence with him.
Genesis 28:18-19 - And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had used for a pillow, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it, and he called the name of that place Bethel (which means “house of God”).
BIG DAY FOR MOSES: HE WOULD STAND BEFORE PHARAOH
Exodus 9:13 - And the LORD said to Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh, and say to him, Thus says the LORD God of the Hebrews, “Let my people go, that they may serve me.”
JOSHUA PREPARED TO DO THE WORK OF GOD.
Joshua 6:12 - And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the LORD.
DAVID GOT UP EARLY BEFORE FIGHTING GOLIATH.
1 Samuel 17:20 - David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the trench, as the host was going forth to the fight, and shouted for the battle.
JESUS PARTICIPATED IN THE FULFILLMENT OF HIS MINISTRY.
John 8:2 - And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.
THE PEOPLE WANTED TO LISTEN TO JESUS’ TEACHINGS.
Luke 21:38 - And all the people would get up early in the morning to come to Him in the temple to listen to Him.
JESUS PREPARED FOR THE CROSS.
Mark 1:35 - And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he (Jesus) went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.
SHE RISES EARLY TO CARE FOR HER FAMILY.
Proverbs 31:15 - She rises while it is yet night
and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens.
THEY LOVED JESUS.
Mark 16:1-2 - When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb.
liner notes:
It makes sense. It’s easy to feel lazy & sleep in when I’m apathetic about my life’s mission & purpose.
The goal isn’t to get up early. The goal is to know why I’m getting up early. Or perhaps who.
Faith. Work. Growth. Intention.