The day tries to take over before the sun has even reached the horizon so I am learning to be still in the dark of the morning. I am learning to be intentional about the ordering of my day because an alert mother has her wits about her when the rushing turns into tsunami flooding.

“On every level of life, from housework to heights of prayer, in all judgment and effort to get things done, hurry and impatience are sure marks of the amateur.”  -Ann Voskamp

The children jump out of bed on the right side or not so I am setting the alarm clock early…very early.

Be Intentional
The day will get away from me if I am not intentional. The day will run full force if I do not stop to get God’s permissions first. The day will rule the roost if someone does not take it by the horns and tell it, “Be still.”

So I set the alarm clock for stun and put the coffee to delay brew so I actually get up. The night before I set out my Bible, pens, notebook and timer (a way to practice silence before God 3 minutes at a time). Then I just sit in silence for as long as it takes to still my heart. Some mornings my brain is already rushing full steam ahead and other mornings I am fighting the urge to get back in bed.

It is in the silence of the morning that I learn how to rangle the day… so the day does not hogtie me before breakfast.

A few ways to take back your mornings:
1. Get up at least an hour earlier than everyone else.
There are seasons when this will be easy and times when this will be impossible: when you have nursing babies, when you work, or when kids get up super early. You will find that there are a ton of reasons NOT to do this. The best advice I can give you is to try.

2. Get to bed early.
But what about my shows? If your prime time TV shows are keeping you from making good daytime choices than perhaps it is time to turn off the TV. Get the housework finished throughout the day so that you can actually enjoy your family in the evenings. If you are a single mom do one thing at a time and leave the non-essentials so that you can get God time at some point during the day.

You have to find a way to fill the well so that it does not run dry.

3. Make mornings about quiet time
Take time to be quiet, pray, take a walk, watch the sunrise, read your Bible, listen to music or pick up a devotional if you need help getting motivated. Find some way to anchor your day in the things of God. Find some way to “cast your cares” on Him. Allow God to order your day before you rush ahead of Him.

4. Release the Guilt
But “I’m not a morning person.” “I’m a sleep Nazi.” “I work.” “I’m too tired in the morning to concentrate.” The truth is that God created you. He formed you. He knows you need 1.5 cups of coffee before you begin to have your wits about you. He gets that you do not do silence. The truth is that God is not asking you to feel shame at how you start your day, this is not a competition between you and some other mother who happens to get 3 hours of God time and you struggle to find 15 minutes.

Hear me on this: God wants you.

He wants your life to be about Him. He wants your mornings, your evenings, your every moment to be directed in worship to Him. If that happens in the middle of the night while you are rocking a fussy baby, first thing in the morning while you are groggy or in the evening rush-hour traffic – God just wants you.

No where in scripture does it say, “Get up and run around like a chicken with your head cut off.” or “You’ll find God if you rush.”

However, throughout scripture we are reminded to Be still. Seek Him to find Him. To live lives of Worship.

Take time with God everyday… even if that means you might be a little tired later.

He is worth the lack of sleep.

Photo Credit: Shaunie Friday of Up the Sunbeam