Is He Really 1st?

There was a time when I was so upset with myself because I would not remember to thank God when I first woke up. On those days, hours could go by before I even acknowledged Him. It was not until I realized how impatient I was with my little people, or felt frustration overtake me, or sensed a depression spirit trying to envelope me, or focused on all of my "problems" & "issues", or complained & murmured under my breath that I would pause - sigh - and go to my Father in prayer. That prayer would always begin in sorrow and with me feeling horribly. Why has it taken so long for me to initiate contact with my source of strength and my help? Why do I have to try so hard to remember to speak to my Father who woke me up? Even if one of my children wake me up when I'm not ready to wake, I at least speak to them. How can I awake out of my sleep without thanking or even immediately speaking to the God who graciously allowed me to live another day?

This humbled me. 

This showed me how weak I am.

This angered me and showed me how foul I am.

I love the Lord and I proclaim Him through song. I encourage others to follow Him and know Him and build a relationship with Him. I say that He is the priority in my life. Yet, I struggle with simply thinking hello to Him when I open my eyes in the morning.

I thank God for His mercy. I thank God for His indwelling spirit that stirred up a want to do better, a want to go higher in Christ, and a need to seek Him harder. I was not cool with the fact that I had to make a conscious effort to remember to pray first thing in the morning. That's basic, right? Why, at this point in my walk, is this an issue for me? I can give a ton of reasons why it was an issue, but the bottom line is that it had to change.

I prayed fervently that God would help me with my prayer life. I wanted to wake up and come into His presence before I did anything else. I needed to jumpstart my spirit man early so all of my day would be full of the fruit of the spirit. I was tired to succumbing to things that were opposite of godly. I was desperate for a change.

Matthew 7:7-8 says "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For everyone that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

God stayed true to His word and I received, found and it was opened! My church family recently began a morning prayer and I have jumped on board. We pray at 5am daily so when my alarm wakes me up, the first thing on my agenda is my God! Oooh, it's been such a blessing!! I saw God do so many things in that first week of seeking Him early. I have tasted the true joy of the Lord and I will never let that go! I want it to stay right here with me in abundance so that it overflows onto everyone in my midst. Most of all, I love that my family are the first partakers of what Christ does in me.

Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks. (1Thessalonians 5:16-18)

Psalm 63 says "O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is."

I encourage you to seek God with all that is within you. James 4:8 tells us that if we draw near to God, he will draw near to us. Be proactive in your praise and your prayer life. Seek Him first - you will never be disappointed.