What steps can you take to prioritize time with God each morning? The Invitation of Exodus 34:2 “Be ready in the morning and come up on Mount Sinai to present yourself before Me on the mountaintop.” God’s command to Moses sets a pattern: readiness, rising early, deliberate approach, and personal presentation before the Lord. Prepare Ahead—“Be Ready in the Morning” • Decide the night before: set out Bible, journal, pen, and a quiet-time plan (Proverbs 6:6-8). • Get to bed at a reasonable hour—honoring your body helps you honor God with alertness (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). • Silence or place your phone across the room; anything that steals morning minutes steals worship. Rise Early—Follow the Pattern of the Faithful • Jesus: “Early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed.” (Mark 1:35) • David: “In the morning, O LORD, You hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before You and wait in expectation.” (Psalm 5:3) • Practical tip: set a gentle alarm and get up at its first sound—obedience begins with the first step out of bed. Choose the Mountaintop—Set Apart a Place • A consistent chair, porch, or corner signals your mind: “Here I meet God.” • Minimize distractions: soft light, a warm drink, and nothing competing for your eyes. • Even if space is tight, consistency creates sacred ground (Genesis 28:16-17). Present Yourself—Heart Posture over Ritual • Open the Word first; resist beginning with news, email, or social media (Matthew 6:33). • Read a clear portion—use a reading plan or a single book; linger until a verse arrests you. • Respond in writing or spoken worship; confess, thank, and submit. • Expect God to speak through Scripture; its literal truth is living and active (Hebrews 4:12). Guard the Encounter—Practical Helps • Set a reasonable, unhurried timeframe—quality over quantity. • Use a simple structure: 1. Scripture reading 2. Meditation—ponder a phrase, cross-reference, or attribute of God 3. Prayerful response—adoration, confession, thanksgiving, petition • Have an “interrupt list”: jot sudden to-dos so they don’t hijack focus. • Tell family or roommates your meeting time; loving communication invites their support. Walk Down the Mountain—Let the Meeting Shape the Day • Carry one verse on a card or phone lock screen (Joshua 1:8). • Revisit it at meals and transitions; this “chewing” keeps fellowship unbroken (Psalm 119:97). • Expect fresh mercies and live them out: “They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness!” (Lamentations 3:23). • Choose obedience quickly; morning revelation deserves daytime application (James 1:22-25). When we intentionally meet God at dawn, we echo Moses’ climb, Jesus’ habit, and the psalmists’ longing. Every dawn becomes a mountaintop, and the rest of the day becomes an outflow of that early meeting with the King. |
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