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Several years ago when my son was seven years old, getting him up and ready for school was a daily challenge. His everyday murmurs of “I hate school”, “school is boring”, and “I don’t feel like getting dressed”, were getting old.
One morning as I trudged into his bedroom prepared for our normal routine, I had an idea. I told little Michael that if he got dressed quickly, we could sit down and eat breakfast together and be breakfast buddies, as opposed to grabbing pop tarts on the way out the door.
To my surprise, his face lit up, and he seemed excited about that idea! He jumped out of bed with newfound motivation to prepare for the day, and we enjoyed a leisurely breakfast together. From that day forward, Michael arose each day without a fuss, always anxious to eat with his breakfast buddy – little ‘ol me.
Even though it took extra effort to get up a little earlier than normal each day, this new plan made our mornings seem different, and he began to look forward to them instead of dreading them. Spending those precious, peaceful moments talking and eating breakfast together made him feel special and valued, and prepared him to face his day at school.
For several years after that, I heard his sweet little voice every morning, asking me to be his breakfast buddy. In fact, on many mornings I would open my eyes to find him eerily standing beside my bed, staring directly into my face with about a two inch distance between my face and his, and whispering “get up breakfast buddy, I’m hungry”.
Through this simple act of spending daily quality time – dedicated one on one time – with my precious little boy, our relationship blossomed. He felt valuable to me, and I felt valuable to him. It’s amazing what a difference time makes.
I wonder how much our relationship with God could blossom if we made Him our breakfast buddy every day? I wonder if our hearts would be transformed as we began listening to the right voice, instead of all the voices that clamor in our minds every morning?
I wonder how many mornings Jesus has stood at the edge of my bed, summoning me to be His breakfast buddy, but instead I simply rolled over and tried to go back to sleep. Or hopped up to start checking off my to-do lists. Or jumped in the shower to prepare for my day.
Yet, on those mornings when I actually do make a point to rise early and have breakfast with Jesus, Â spending time in His word and in prayer, I feel closer to Him and more at peace all throughout my day.
In the same way that my son was more motivated to begin his day when I committed to devoted time with him, making him feel special and loved, Jesus wants us to commit to spending with Him as well, where He can make us feel special and loved and prepared for whatever the day holds. The more time we spend with Him, the more we will begin to feel and believe that we really are valuable, that we really do matter, and that our lives count for something in God’s eyes.
Luke 12:6-7 says “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”Â
Did you know that in biblical times, sparrows were the lowest and least valuable commodity? Sold for less than a penny each? Â Basically they were deemed as worthless. But Jesus said not one of them was forgotten by God. Every sparrow was valuable in God’s eyes – so how much more are we, as children of God, worth to Him if He cares about the measly sparrows?Â
God doesn’t want us to spend time with Him because we feel obligated or out of Christian duty – but because He knows that the more time we spend with Him, the more we will begin to embrace how valuable we are. The more we embrace our value in Him, the more we will listen to and hear His voice. The more we hear His voice, the more likely we are to be excited about our faith and begin living intentionally and excitedly for Him.
The more we not only be still – but be still and listen – the more He can fill our hearts with forgiveness, peace, acceptance, joy and purpose. Time with Jesus is always time well spent.
I still eat breakfast with my little man – a.k.a breakfast buddy – every morning, Â even though he is 15 years old now. But I always try to make God my breakfast buddy too. Even if only two bowls of cereal are on the table, I always know that three chairs are filled.
NEXT STEPÂ
Write in your journal or study guide about what keeps you from spending time with God each morning. Spend some time in prayer, asking God to help you prioritize time with Him, and fill you with a desire to make Him your breakfast buddy from this day forward.
Set a routine to spend time with God each morning, and make a commitment to stick to it. Mornings are always busy, so maybe consider getting up 30 minutes early each day. Consider looking up these verses for encouragement: Matthew 6:6, Exodus 9:13, Mark 1:35, Psalm 143:8.
** I came across a great article by Lifeway about How To Have A Quiet Time, if you’re interested. **
WEDNESDAY GIVEAWAYÂ
Since we’re focusing on spending quiet time with God, today’s giveaway is two pretty journals with today’s key verse on them. Â Inside, each page has a different inspirational scripture verse for the day.
To enter to win one of the journals, leave a comment sharing one thing you can do differently tomorrow morning, and all mornings going forward,  to help you make Jesus your new breakfast buddy. 🙂
94 Comments
Tracie Miles is a bestselling author and the Director of COMPEL Training with Proverbs 31 Ministries. She helps women grow stronger in their faith, pursue the life of purpose God designed them for and live a life of peace, joy and happiness despite their circumstances.
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I definitely agree that mornings are hectic and it’s very easy to just fall into a routine. I usually go through my to do list during breakfast, or just check email or messages before the day starts. It’s easy to get bogged down in the day to day things!
But I think it would be helpful if I started each day with a simple prayer before moving onto any tasks. This will help ground me so I don’t get bogged down easily by the day’s demands. Thanks again Tracie!
I am not a morning person at all! In fact on the weekends, I’ve been known to sleep until 10 if my son will let me. My daughter, on the other hand is like me and hates morning, so she sleeps until 10 each morning. getting up early to do my bible study has been on my heart. ( I do my daily bible study at night after my kids go to bed) The way I can remedy this is by getting up 30 minutes earlier. My son is like your ps was Tracie, he hates getting up early for school.
Over the past couple years, I’ve gotten into the habit of starting off the day reading a portion of Scripture. I wake up early because mornings are the only time I have to myself (I work at home and homeschool). Even though I begin each day with God’s Word, I still find myself thinking of it as just one more thing to check off the to-do list. I want to wake up and be excited to start off my day with God, soaking up His Word and not trying to rush off to the next thing. While the Word of God is complete in itself, I know that I often look forward to things more when I add something special, whether it’s lighting a candle as I read the Bible or having a new journal to write in each morning.
Several years ago I heard someone say God’s word first even if just one verse, so I decided to try it, and it has really made a difference in my life! I subscribe to K-Love’s verse of the day to my email and when my alarm goes off I click on my email and read the verse of the day prior to my feet ever hitting the floor. It really has helped me to focus on God before I literally hit the ground running each morning.
I think I might try the breakfast idea. My 6 year old is having difficulties getting up each morning, and I’m game for anything to make the mornings smoother! Thank you Tracie!
I actually get up early enough to spend time with the Lord. I take my devotional into the kitchen with me, but then my mind begins to wonder about taking care of this abs that then I hurry through the Word and time with God. I will purpose in my heart to let alone everything else until my God has gotten my full attention first and foremost. He deserves the Glory, Honor, and Praise. I must place Him at the top of my list…. Highest place of my life!!!
I love spending time with the Lord. I love reading my devotions, but what I need to work on is listening and talking less! I love those journals..?beautiful 🙂
I am with you there Melissa. I do not spend enough time “being still”.
I have a friend that I pray with,do your devotional with and put on the Armour each morning. It’s kind of like having an accountability partner.
Li get up early every morning, and the first thing I do is spend at least 30 minutes with God. I can’t tell you the difference it has made in my life. And at the end of my Bible reading, I journal my prayers…my thanks and my petitions. And often days or weeks later, go back to read some of them, and am always amazed at all the answers to my prayers. God is so good!!
Every time I resolve to get up earlier, I fill that bonus time with everything but spending time with God. My problem is not lack of time…it is prioritizing that time!
Lord, please help me make time with you my top priority…tomorrow and every day.
Amen.
Getting up 30 minutes earlier to spend time with Jesus. But, leaving some time to “be still and know that He is my God” and listen to what He has to say instead of filling the whole time with my voice.
I have felt convicted for quite a while to make more time for God, but excuses have gotten the best of me. I feel like I need Him now more than ever and am dedicated to starting a new routine where I rise 30 minutes earlier than normal to spend much needed time with Him! Thank you 🙂
Through some of the most difficult times in my life, I started journaling. Talking to God through my journal. It ignited a fire in me to dream of someday being a writer. It also led me to take a walk through the Bible in one year. That in turn led me to daily devotions, prayer and journaling. I start my day with an hour with God. I get frustrated when things prevent that from happening, but always try to take time to go back if I have missed a day. This is my with God time I treasure. I have slowed in my journaling and need to take time to do it. It is a great opportunity to go back and see how God has been working and growing me in my life. I still dream of being a writer and hope to pursue that in the near future.
I loved today’s scripture~” Be still and know that I am God”…I start most days with that in my head before my feet hit the floor~ my new spring training will be to get up 1/2 hour early and kneel down to pray followed by daily meditations! Thank you for your blog and these beautiful reminders… Join me in having a great day
I am a morning person and I like to get up make up my bed,get my shower and get my day started. I have my Bible, devotionals,and journal,along with a pencil to write in my journal. My biggest struggle is after I have my reading done and do my prayer time. I don’t be still long enough to hear from the Holy Spirit and I talk more when I should Listen More. I am really going to work harder on this.
Tracie those journals are beautiful thank you so much for a wonderful give away today.
I will not it down d watch morning shows on tv. I will instead spend that time with Jesus and working on my study!
Mornings are for me and God…I get up and first thing I say is “This is the day the Lord hath made let us rejoice and be glad in it”
I take 20 minutes to do what I need to do…then I spend the next few hrs with my God in thanking Him giving Him praise pray and read my bible and devotionals…and I feel my day will be a good one …if things come up that hinder me I give them to my God and I know He will take care of them for me..I am truly blessed by my God…and if I dont do that every morning my day just doesnt seem the same…try it…it works!!!
Have a blessed day all…
In years past I have established that the first part of my day belongs to God and recently I have put into practice, having lunch with my Savior. It may be a quiet time of praise, just talking to Him about my day, or lifting others needs to Him. But the ONE Thing I need to do more is to be still and know He is God….listening more to Him.
The journals are lovely! 🙂
I wake up each morning acknowledging the Lord. I read scripture for my spiritual breakfast. I say a prayer to have the Holy Spirit guide my day, my heart, my intentions, my path and thank Him for the Blessings of a new day.
Proverbs 4:18 (NKJV) But the path of the just is like the shining sun, That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.
So loving this study! Just what I needed at this time in my life. I need a breakfast buddy…named Jesus!. Thank you for this study and your precious words each week 🙂
This is something I have begun doing recently. I have always been an early riser, and I exercise in the morning before I go to work, but normally I would use the rest of the time to just sit and drink coffee and watch the news. Now, I don’t turn the news on until after my quiet time, in His Word, and in prayer. It makes such a big difference in the rest of my day when I take that time at the start of the day!
Oh I struggle with this! I find it hard to focus on my time with God before I get the kids off to school so I have been doing it after I take them to school but this does allow for more “distractions” to get in the way. I really want to try to something small to start, maybe just a Bible verse or two when I first get up because I do get up about 15 minutes before the kids!
I love this story. Making spending time with God a priority is the key. It is so easy to let the day get the best of me while offering what’s leftover to God. I love those journals. Thanks for the giveaway
Good morning! I loved this article andwish I had read it when my little boy was small. I guess I didn’t think out of the box like this. He is grown now and will be leaving my nest nest weekend. I pray he will be successful in all he does.
As for the making Jesus my “breakfast buddy,” I have to say that I began this about 2 years ago, and it has worked out very well for me in starting my day out right. I have gotten somewhat routine about it over the past couple of months and need to spend more of my time in honest prayer/communication with Jesus. I read my Bible pretty much everyday (I hate when I miss it), but the prayer time has kind of gone by the wayside. Thanks for the reminder! I am going to commit to not just reading about my Jesus, but actually spending time with Him. Getting to know His heart better, and sharing my heart more readily with Him.
Love this breakfast buddy story. Two of my kids are my breakfast buddies and we read “Jesus Calling” (kids’ version) each day. I pray those few minutes of focusing on The Word and Jesus are impacting their little minds; but honestly, it’s impacting mine, too, which is a blessing for a working mommy of three. I do feel convicted about getting up early, but indeed tend to roll back over. What’s helped me is knowing that other moms have the same challenge and solve it in different ways. Things I’ve done are: posting verses around my desk at work, taking a walk to another floor of the library I work in and journaling a few moments, walking around the stacks and praying for the students who are there…I don’t have a routine of 30-60 minutes straight with God (would be nice if I could focus that much!). But if, as I read in a devotional once, I can make prayer an ongoing, thru-the-day conversation, that makes a difference.
Have a good day, everyone!
I love the idea of spending time with God and having a quiet time. Several times I’ve tried to journal and having stuck with it very long. I worked nights for so long that my system is so messed up with the time. I stay up all night and sleep in the mornings. There is two things I want to start this week. 1. To journal and have a quiet time with the Lord and 2. Turn the TV off in order to spend time with the Lord. I have so many addictions that I need to overcome. I’ve had them so long that they have become strongholds in my life. I can already see changes in me, PTL and I want to keep going with the changes and replacing the bad ones for good ones. I so want this study to stick with me.
Hi Tracie,
I really enjoy reading your emails every morning. This one really stood out. I lived in Oregon before I moved here to Texas to be with my Dad a pastor. We really don’t have a lot of time to spend together, but your story gave me a reason and hope to make time to spend with him. So what I am going to do is start making calls in the morning before he leaves home just to say I love you. Send him text message just because I love him. This will bring us closer and who knows maybe start having coffee in the mornings again.
I had been setting aside some time with God first thing in the mornings, but I admit that I have become slack and have only been reading Facebook notifications. Although these notifications are all from Biblical websites and from church friends and family, and even include Bible verses, I have been leaving out the most important thing of all, God! Thanks for this reminder that it is all about Him, praying to Him, reading His word and listening to Him!
for me ,as soon as my alarm goes off in the morning ,I start talking to G-d the Father ,sometimes I end up dosing back off ( just being honest) I work an hour away from home ,so I spend that hr talking to him ,thanking him and listening to praise and worship. I try during the day to do my on line Bible study and again listen to praise and worship. I also write in my journal. but real quality time ,where I just sit down and spend and hour in the word or praying ,I don’t do. I am very hyper.but i feel like G-d knows my personality (since he made it ) and he knows my heart .I think a person should find what works for them.some people are not morning people .for years I would get up early and sit and try so hard to concentrate on praying ,reading etc… it was the hardest thing I ever tried to do ( besides diet) but when noon came and I was alive and awake .it was easy for me .so I say what works for one ,doesn’t work for all ( one size does NOT fit all ).I do understand where you are coming from with the early sacrifice to the L-rd. it just didn’t fit for me. have a blessed day .thanks for sharing .
It has taken a month to say it is working. I get up the extra 1/2 hour drink water and pray and read scripture before Mt greakfast. I’m not at 99% , but I’m getting there. God wakes me up most mornings, but when I’ve had a rough night I know there is no condemnation for those who are in Christian JESUS?
Good Morning Tracie and all you wonderful women out there!
First of all I think the Breakfast Buddy idea is awesome and I would totally LOVE for Our Papa to be mine.
In the morning, my usual routine is to take care of my precious dog Diamond, make some coffee and have it while i’m on the computer.
From tomorrow, however, I plan on having my coffee with my new ‘breakfast buddy’ God in prayer and meditation on a scripture. I am hoping and planning to continue this from now on..
Thanks for being my ‘Bible Study Buddies’ everyone!!
I try to spend time with the Lord but it is hard I am so not a morning person ! I know it would help me need to work on this.
The past year for me has been full of personal upheaval and struggle as my marriage fell apart and I experienced my own pain and watched the painful effects on my children. Needing my relationship with God more than ever, I began a year-long bible reading plan on the Bible app on my Kindle. Using more social media, I decided to keep a Pinterest board for the verses that I highlighted each morning. I started on January 1st and it is the first thing I do every morning. I wake up early, read the scripture for the day, highlighting verses as I go, then I pin those verses to my Pinterest board. The act of “pinning” the verses reinforces them for me and I can easily go to that board and look at all the verses that God has used to speak to me. This has made a big difference in my morning routine and my ability to face the challenges of the day, whether they are personal or professional.
One area that I still need to focus on, though, is spending more quiet time being still, praying and listening to God. I don’t always take the time to do that before the busyness of the day begins. Today’s message has given me inspiration to look for a time for quiet, contemplative prayer and reflection.
I can spend time thanking the Lord that he has blessed me with another day; another chance. Praise him for all I have.
i can stop not being interrupted by the dryer or thinking i need to reheat my tea water so it will be the proper temperature in the middle of my quiet time. i allow myself to be interrupted.
Since being given a copy of Jesus Calling and a day by day chronological Bible I actually HAVE been making God my breakfast buddy – I love spending my breakfast and drinking coffee with Him now! In fact, I just copied my pages of Jesus Calling and wrote down the daily Bible readings to take with me on vacation next week!
Hi Leslie,
I also have Jesus calling and it has been a part of my morning for the past 6 year!. I highly recommend this devotional . Every year, it speaks to me wherever I am at in my life. And the daily bible readings is a place to start each morning in reading the bible.
I’m going to go to bed 1 hr early tonight so tomorrow I can get up 1 hr earlier. This will allow me some private time to pray and read the Bible. I’m going to make a to do list of what I want to read. I would like to read devotionals about Easter.
I have struggled with developing a relationship with God. However I am not setting time apart for Him. I think that I need to try to start each day opening the blinds to see the sunrise He has provided and then spending time reading the Bible and talking with God. Tomorrow’s goal is this small step.
Thanks Tracie. I spend time each morning with my bible, but sometimes, the words are sinking in. I am going to say a prayer before I start reading and ask God to help me soak in his Word and to mentally in tune with it.
I love this breakfast idea. It’s so cute. I have custody of my 7-year-old nephew who has many many emotional difficulties. This would be a good daily practice for us.
As for spending breakfast time with Jesus, I think turning my morning gym routine into a workout prayer time would be a good start to my day!
Hello,
I recently started placing Bible verses that speak to me, near my bathroom mirror, on wall pictures above my bed , my nightstand, the fridge, and by a side table where I sit daily and read. They are gentle reminders that I need to start everyday by waking, then walking in the Spirit. These verses help me to stay grounded throughout the day, no matter what life throws at me, I am reminded that God is with me always and He deserves to be first in all that I do.
I am going to begin reading my Bible in the morning instead of reading it at night!!
I hope this doesn’t sound crazy but I think I have found God’s purpose for me. I don’t know how or what to do but I think God is calling me to find the misfits that just don’t feel like they belong or feel unloved and minister to them. I’m not a social person or a public speaker so I don’t know what to do with this discovery. You could actually call my husband and me loners. I know there is a lot of us out there. Just a thought.
Mornings can be very hectic like everyone has said. I have an hour drive to work and I enjoy listening to Christian music on the way to work because it helps me focus on what I need to be thankful for and to keep my heart right. There can be a lot of drama in the world and if you let it bog you down, the day can be downright depressing. I know that I could get up a few minutes earlier every day and spend time with my Bible and praying. I know that my day would be better if I would dedicate it God first thing instead of rushing around.
O to rise just 30 minutes earlier for more time with Him! Which means going to bed earlier!
I desire to start my day out with quite time but the minute my feet hit the floor I get caught up in what needs to be done & taking care of. Instead of what truly matters.
I Made me a (Me) room for quite time & prayer.. I have away of letting life suck me in instead ..
I will use what you said and get up early before any ditractions befall me & make it a top priority to spend quality time with the Lord.. I know that is truly the only real way to make it threw a day ..
How good it is to sit quietly at my Savior’s feet. Psalm 46:10 is one of my favorite verses.
I actually had to move back with my parents a couple years ago and share a bathroom with my mom. We both need to leave at the same time in the morning. I get the lovely opportunity to wake up first to get in there first. I then go back to bed to catch a couple more Z’s. I have been meaning to NOT go back to bed so I can get into the Word but haven’t yet. Tomorrow I will start doing so, but in order to get enough sleep still, I will go to bed earlier.
I read a verse in the morning. I read the Bible at work. I am a church secretary so it is peaceful. I do other devotional readings at night. I like the breakfast buddy idea and I think my 9 year old would enjoy his mornings too starting our day with the Lord.
I am new and still question if there is a God, does he really love unconditionally, am I good enough for his love and I can go on. At this point I don’t sit still long enough to speak to God or listen to hear if God is speaking to me. This study so far has allowed me to begin putting the thoughts that I am worthy as a person and God loves me for me and my life does count. I am willing to just begin to have a conversation with God or just say hello and good morning right when I wake up. I will even stay still to listen and see if I hear, sense or feel God.
Thank you Debbie for sharing… I am encouraged by your honesty and so glad you are in our study. I need to be still and listen for his voice too.. I know that God is going to be so happy to hear your “hello” love and prayers to you!
I have learned, through the years, to spend quality time with God in the mornings I need to get up early. If I begin by hard charging into the day, I do not have that special awareness of God throughout the day as I do when I start my day in His word and prayer. It is a discipline – sometimes very hard to get up that half hour early, but well worth it!!
I started in January with a duo. Walk on the treadmill, read scripture, and listen to Christian music.
Dear Tracie,
I already have been getting up early and the first thing I do is take my meds, put on coffee and then pray and do my devotions. I probably should do it the other way around. I am a morning person and love to meet in the morning with God. What really struck me about your devotional was that I need to BE STILL and LISTEN! I don’t do nearly enough of that. Thank you for reminding me about this.
Love in Christ,
Taili
I need to leave the iPad on the desk and pick up His word and get nourished with His word before anything else.
I have developed a morning routine of starting my day in Gods word and prayer. It is as essential now as getting dressed because without the armor I am not ready to take on my day. It is however very easy to get distracted so I find that having a quiet area that is designated for my time with God and journaling thoughts and prayers helps keep my mind on task and my ears open to his voice.
BEFORE I open my computer in the morning, I will open up my Bible!
Tracie, my younger son was my breakfast buddy for awhile, as I was his designated driver to school and back. I must admit, lately I have been giving more time to reading the Bible study book and the one year Bible and not spending much time with Him alone. I talk to Him during the day, but it’s not the same as that close, quiet, still, one on one time.
I used to have about 45 minutes every morning to focus on God and pray, or just listen quietly for His voice. My schedule has changed and I don’t have that anymore. I am determined to get it back so I am going to start getting up earlier every morning to refocus mt day on God and get it started right:)
This message was convicting! I need to put my time with God first thing, before I check email, facebook, or begin work at my job. One thing I’m going to do is wake up 15 minutes early, read my devotions and pray before I do anything else or wake my children up. I hope to make it 30 minutes early, but starting out with 15 seems more achievable because I am NOT a morning person! 🙂
This was a great post. I’m going to take the example and wake up 30 minutes early each day to spend time with Jesus:)
Thank you for sharing this post!
The alarm goes off at 4am and the 2nd alarm goes off at 4:30am I am going to push myself out of bed at 4am so that I am not rushed in my daily reading
For some reason the rest of my post disappeared!! I am going tonneau and ask God for understanding in what I am reading.
I want to condition myself to devote my early morning to devotions. I need to bring my day to the Lord 1st thing….not “as needed’ throughout the day. I am too selfish in the morning between sleep and getting ready for work. If I spend quiet time journaling or reading my devotions, I’m sure I’ll have a better day knowing I just took off my burdens and gave them to God. I won’t feel along all day trudging through my life.
When my children were young I used to have my quiet time at night once they were in bed. I remember falling asleep while sitting up (several times). I was completely exhausted from the day and my good intentions were not producing good results. Then my friend told me that having her quiet time in the morning was like a violinist fine tuning a violin in preparation for a grand symphony. I’ve never forgotten that and it completely changed the way I understood the importance of starting out each day first with the Lord. I’ve come to understand that every day is a grand symphony and the best way to fine tune my instruments {hear & mind} is by spending time with God before my day begins.
Hello,
I do love my mornings. I’m one of those morning people most don’t like to be around. It’s MY time. Not sure why, but I do enjoy it. Every once in awhile I have a morning or two that when the alarm goes off, that my face remembers how much it loves my pillow. And I drift back off for a few minutes. I just really need to focus on more time with God. He is blessing me more than I certainly deserve. My marriage may be in shambles, but ME, I am at peace for the first time in my life. Odd, I know. No, I don’t wish my marriage to be this way. I know it’s in Gods hands. I pray for it every day, every night.
Have a wonderful day….
I have started getting up early and reading my bible and doing the bible study “Read Thru the Word” with Wendy Pope. It took awhile to get it to be a habit,, but now I love it. If I miss a morning my day doesn’t seem to go as well. I actually look forward to getting up and reading my bible. I never thought I would look forward to reading the bible!
My self-challenge will be to pray first thing each morning for God to lead me through the day with patience and clear thinking, and to keep Him in the front of my mind. I love Jesus with true passion, and just want to please Hime each day!!!
Set my alarm for 15 minutes earlier…….then once I adapt to that, add 15 more. 30 minutes of quiet time before the house becomes alive with the hustle of the day. I know is a good thing.
One thing different: get up before the demands overwhelm me so I can carve quiet into my morning….I do much better if I get up and be quiet with God before I have to give myself out to others…it is like quiet recharges me
I have begun getting up early to take care of our kitties and getting them done for the day. Then I have my time with God. The one thing I need to do differently is to spend extra time with him. Getting more closer to him.
In the beginning, I was able to do this but the distractions of life has stopped me from spending my time with the Lord. I am not a morning person but I will begin to get up at 4:30am, read my bible, sit still and listen for God’s voice. I don’t have children (yet) but I have to go to work very early in the morning. I believe it is important for me to spend that quality time with God which will greatly impact how the rest of my day(s) and week(s) will go.
I, like Julie, have been starting my mornings with Read the Word and Wendy Pope. I’m definitely not a morning person but I have been getting up 1 hour early every day to do my chronological Bible Study. And now it’s becoming a habit. I don’t want to miss a day. I love starting my day in God’s Word. I’m also journaling. The thing I need to do more intentionally is to spend some quiet time with God and listen for what He has to say to me. I’m am so thankful for His Word and what it is teaching me.
If only I would make Jesus my breakfast buddy rather than wait until after breakfast and the morning news, how much better of a way to start my day! Tomorrow that’s just what I’m going to start doing! He should be my last thoughts for the night and my first thoughts in the morning. Thank you for the challenging post!
The breakfast buddie story really blessed me… It makes me want to get up earlier to spend time with God… I am usually up between 7:00-8:00 but even on the days I don’t work I wait until afternoon or evening to do my study or read devotions… I am going to start getting up earlier though so I can have time with him befor I start my day. 🙂
This morning, I spent quiet time with the Lord in prayer, prayed for unsaved love ones, and for believing friends that are struggling. I was so refreshed in the Lord that I actually got dressed and took my dog for a long awaited walk. It was so special to still be in the Lord’s presence, and enjoy a beautiful spring day! Putting God first today made my whole day a special and renewing day with my Lord! When I put God first in my day it makes it our day and everything just seems to fall into place and I get so much more accomplished. Putting on our armor of God and making Him first always defeats satan’s plans and gives us victory in our day! I love journaling and it would be a blessing to win one to go along with this Bible Study. God Bless you real good (as my Grammy used to say) 🙂
I really enjoy spending time with god while out walking . Here in the last year my life was turned upside down when my mother in law was diagnosed with cancer. I became her caregiver till she passed away in November . It has been really hard to get back in a routine. I am starting tomorrow morning going into town where I can get out and walk and just set one foot in front of the other and walk and talk with god.
I can get up a half hour earlier to spend time with Jesus
The thing that I will start tomorrow is spending quiet time with Jesus after I drop my boys off at school. They go to school pretty early, so it would still be early in the morning to start making Jesus my “breakfast buddy”. I have a bad habit of coming home and going back to sleep because I do not sleep well. However, with some java, I just might be able to stay awake. It would probably help me sleep better at night also! This is something that has been weighing heavy on my heart. I have wanted to start spending quiet time with God for so very long, but it seems that life has a way of ruining the best of intentions. My Dad died last September, and the depression from that and some other life events have been some of the reasons that I cannot sleep at night. Hopefully, my “breakfast buddy” will help me turn this around so that I can spend quiet time with him in the morning instead of my thoughts at night!
I appreciate the early morning quiet time. I am working full time and taking online classes while mothering two teenage daughters. The morning is the only time I am truly alone all day long. I started reading a devotional or bible passage and using a prayer journal about a year ago to just pour out my fears, and frustrations or blessings to God each morning. It does help me get through long difficult days.
Thanks for this study.
Oh these journals are so beautiful and what a crucial reminder! I used to have a body lotion called ‘be still’ and used it for exact same purpose reminder.
I saw your comment above that you used to do your Bible study in the evenings until you friend recommended to do it in the mornings and why. I also prefer to do mine in the evenings (I am not a morning person at least mentally), but the reason why we should that you described above made me want to be a bit more determined to roll out of bed earlier and try to do it. I am just afraid I won’t take out much, as my brain is still very foggy. I also thought that I could do some reading of verses/devotionals while commuting to work (and no, I am not driving but taking public transport, so all around me should be still safe on the road if I do it 🙂 ).
In the last few years I have finally “gotten it “to have morning buddy time with The Lord. It has been so enriching. I am not a morning person but was able to become a morning with Jesus person. Thankful for the hours spent either doing home work for a Beth Moore study or trudging through a Chistian book with The Lord, to grow in Him. I was able to turn around a waking up for a possibly menopausal reason…into a. Time with my Lord. I’m a few hours short of Wednesday, but am encouraged by your passion to bring woman to freedom with this study. I too will claim freedom from the things that have impacted my life. Our lord is amazing.
God is so awesome, we were just discussing this topic in our Monday bible study group. In fact we talked about having an accountability buddy who would ask us each day did you have your quiet time with God? So setting the alarm and having a buddy are my two ways!!
When my earthly father passed, someone asked me if I knew he read his Bible every day…he’d go into his office every morning and close the door. Everyone knew not to bother him until his door was reopened…in remembrance and for my relationship with God, I make it a point to daily spend time with God while having my morning coffee. I do nothing else, no electronics or checking emails until AFTER having spent time with God, reading the Bible, several devotions, and praying…if and when my day does not start that way, something seems to be missing.
One thing I can do is try to get up at least a half hour before my daughter so that I have some quiet time to spend with God before my busy day begins!
I really wish I could not pick up my phone in the morning and instead replace it with a quick devotional prayer. Once you get started with emails, it’s like there’s not way to stop and refocus during the day.
I need to stop reaching for my phone first thing! I wake up early as it is, but checking my phone sucks up so much time that could be spent in prayer instead.
I hand wrote a prayer: Heavenly Father, you are good. You know the friendships I need in this season of my life. So I am praying for the friends I have right now and the ones I have yet to meet. Help me be a god-honoring friend who will always point them in your direction. I ask to know more of you and your word. I ask for the Positive words today to have better wisdom of understanding each situation I am faced with today. The strength to move forward in a positive no matter how difficult it is or how hurt my feelings are.
Help me be content with my life as it is now for this is not the end. That I maintain the strength to DEPEND on your God not myself. To continue to have HOPE, FAITH and COURAGE, LOVE. In Jesus Name Amen
Great blog post. It hits home. Time seems to fly by in the morning. I need to set an earlier time for bed and stick with it. Then actually get up when the alarm goes off. Yes.
Sometimes saying that you will do something different is easier than actually doing it. I read the email last or early this morning. While on my way to work, I figured if I at least made an attempt to read God’s work and speak to him when I find myself getting up at 2am instead of catching up on my emails. That would constitute as my buddy breakfast time. Once am up on usually rushing to get out of the house.
Be still and know that I am God is my life verse!!
I could get up without hitting snooze. Sounds so easy.
I have been trying to do this by setting my alarm a little earlier, and then getting a cup of coffee and curling up with it and my Bible. I am reading through it in the chronological version.
Hi Tracie!
I am slowly catching up and and read Wednesday’s post. Point proven for spending more time with God! I do my hardest to spend all day in His word, even at work but I know one thing I can change is spending more time with Him in the morning before I start my day. Starting tomorrow I am going to try my hardest to wake up early and dwell on His word. He has so much to share with me and I don’t want to miss anything!
Thank you
Amber