You are righteous, Lord, and your laws are right. (Ps. 119:137)
My mom has always been a morning person. I can’t remember a time growing up that she wasn’t up before me and my siblings, spending time with God and then kicking into full gear with household tasks. I used to think she was nuts. However, since having my own kids, I’ve discovered how important starting my day with God is. While not an early riser, I now set my alarm for 5:30 a.m. so I can have some precious time with God before the first little feet hit the floor.
I don’t do it because I’m righteous. I do it because I want to be. That time with God fills my mind with God’s truth. It challenges me to be more kind, more patient, and more forgiving as a parent and a wife. His Word equips me for the day. That one hour in the morning helps me remember what this life is really all about—because otherwise I start to think it’s all about me.
God’s Word is “alive and active” (see Heb. 4:12). But we can’t expect God’s righteousness to rub off on us by our own merit. We need time with him and time alone with his Word. Whether we get up early or stay up late or find a quiet corner at lunch, we need to be in the Bible—not because we’re good, but because he is.
Make time with God—breathing in his Word—a priority.
Sarah E. Westfall resides in Fort Wayne, Indiana, with her husband Ben and their four boys. Her elusive free time is spent reading, home remodeling, and writing.
© 2019 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission.
