Devotions Inspired By Beyond BlessedSample

REFRAME YOUR DAY
by Mary Jo Pierce 

There’s a familiar adage you might have heard, “Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.” This saying has never applied to me in the natural. I was born minutes after midnight and from that day until now, I’ve been a night owl. That was all fine until I started kindergarten. I was not one of those people who could wake up, say a cheery good morning, and go. Then when I began my career as a stewardess in the ‘60s and ‘70s, I had a 4 am wake-up call for an airplane that waits for no one. But then, my spirit was awakened to the love of Jesus in 1976, and He issued a morning invitation to meet with Him. 

Today’s verse is special to me because when I first read it, it was like an invitation to follow His example and begin meeting with God first thing in the morning. Despite my love for staying up late, I accepted His invitation and began looking at the changes I’d need to make and the prices I’d need to pay to allow God to reframe my 24 hours. I fasted staying up later than 10 pm and I started getting up before the sun. I created a meeting place—my prayer chair with my Bible, journal, and pen. 

I learned through trial and error what works for me: it begins with praise, continues with the Word, and ends with prayer. I have determined that it’s not a time for studying, memorizing Scripture, or prayer for all that concerns me. Instead, it’s just a time for God and me. It’s a time to orient my heart for the day, to set my compass on His north, to set my affections on Him, and to be fed today’s manna through Scripture and listen to His voice. Then I pray, talk about what’s on my heart, and commune with Him. 

We were all created to do this very thing—commune with God. And when we set aside time first thing in the morning to meet with Him, we are reorienting our days to be centered around Him. There’s no better way to begin our day than to sense Him say, “Well done, have a good day,” when we leave our meeting place with Him.

PRAYER
Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, good morning. I’m grateful it’s important to You that I spend the first part of my day with You, so I will steward my time to meet You then. Please strengthen me, give me strategy, and grace my calendar to truly put first things first—You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

MEMORY VERSE   
“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” MATTHEW 6:33 (NLT)