A start defines the entire day

What is the first thing you do when you wake up? Roll over and check your phone? Shut your eyes in order to avoid facing the tasks of the day? Thank God for giving you a new day? The activities, in which you engage right after waking up, set the tone for the rest of the day. If you spend the first few minutes of the day focusing on problems the day may bring and succumbing to worry, you will likely have a stressful day. Children will be woken up by a grumpy mother and the driver will get a shouting for something that would normally be overlooked. But if you choose to spend time in God’s presence, reading His Word, and talking to Him, even a heavy day will seem manageable. The assurance that you are not operating in your own strength, God’s looking out for you, will help you face the day. David, the Psalmist, was being hunted by the king of the land. Each morning when David woke up, he had a choice to make. Would he give in to worry or turn to God? The Bible says that during times of distress, David would call out to God in the morning and wait expectantly for His reply (Psalm 5:3). David would be up before dawn, crying out to the One who could help him; his hope was in the word of God (Psalm 88:13;119:147). He persevered knowing that God would come through for him.

Jesus too devoted the wee hours of the morning to prayer. Once, early in the morning, while darkness hung in the air, Jesus left the house and went to a solitary place to pray (Mark 1:35). Soon, His disciples came looking for Him, and together they set out for Jesus to preach in other villages ( Mark 1: 36-37). Jesus knew the importance of spending time alone with His Father; everything else could wait. Each day we have an opportunity to choose the focus of our attention. Let us choose wisely.