“BUT IT’S SATURDAY!” – That’s what went through my mind as soon as I realized I was awake this morning. Even though I hadn’t opened my eyes yet I knew two things. It wasn’t daylight outside and I was more awake than I was asleep. I checked the clock. 4:50 A.M. I hadn’t even slept 5 hours.
No, I was not planning on being called to a pre-dawn meeting this morning but, I was. How did I know? I felt it. Can’t explain it, won’t even try, but I knew I should not ignore it. I needed to grab a cup of yesterday’s coffee, take my seat at “my table” in the living room, do a little reading, give thanks for the countless blessings in my life, then just sit quietly and listen.
Pre-dawn meetings make sense if you think about it. How so? Well……..
Psalms 46:10 states, not a suggestion, it states, “Be still and know that I am God”. “Be Still”. Not go jogging, do yoga, take a walk, boat ride, bike ride, lift weights, go for a drive or a thousand other things the world will tell you to do in order to clear your mind and find your way . Simply this, “Be still”. An impossible task once the sun comes up.
I call the wee hours, after midnight but before daylight, the “still hours”. My house is asleep. Nobody and nothing is vying for my time. I have always slept at least a little bit since the day before. My mind is the emptiest it will be all day and is like a slate wiped clean by a few hours rest.
No better way to approach a 1 on 1 consultation with the God of the Universe. A God that always shows up. I mean why wouldn’t He? He called the meeting. That’s how it works.
When I get the call my routine is simple:
- Arrive expectantly
- Humble myself and graciously give thanks before asking for a single thing
- Be still and listen
- Take notes
Jeremiah 29:11-14 states that God has a plan for your life and that He will reveal it to you when you seek Him with all your heart. Psalms 46:10 states to Be still and know that He is God. I have found that the revealing comes most often when I am still, usually well before dawn. Then comes Faith, having the guts to do what He has told you to do, which is always going to be outside of your comfort zone. You can count on that.
Get in the boat. Do your part.
1:6 / Nose to Toes / #16