It’s a chilly morning at our camper, and I couldn't be happier. I love getting up early, enjoying the peacefulness that the morning brings. Today, I have the blinds open, to a view of the sunshine washing over the trees outside. Our fireplace is adding warmth, and best of all, it's wonderfully quiet. As a morning person, this is my time—a space where I can truly hear. In the stillness, I can hear my own thoughts and, most importantly, hear God.
As an adult, mornings have taken on a new significance. Back when I was a teenager, weekends and summers meant sleeping in, free from the sound of alarm clocks. Now, I treasure the silence. The rest of my day is filled with noise, busyness, and countless distractions. The day’s pace is intense, with my kids moving from one activity to the next, filling the house with their noise and if you know my kids they are gifted at creating noise. To work, the demands start the moment my key fob hits the lock and won’t stop until I’m back in my car. In all this chaos, I know I need God to get through the day, but it’s hard to hear Him with all of the noise. That’s why these quiet mornings are important to me.
In 1 Kings 19:11-13, we read about Elijah’s encounter with God, reminding us that He speaks in a gentle whisper, not through chaos and noise. This is why my quiet mornings are so important to me.
"The Lord said, 'Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.'
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind, there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
Then a voice said to him, 'What are you doing here, Elijah?'"
My morning time with God has evolved over the years, but it consistently includes these components: mornings, quiet, Bible, prayer. What does your morning routine look like? Do you have a specific time set aside to be with God each day? If not, I encourage you to set a date with God this week and commit to it. Whether it’s your first time doing a devotional or you’re getting back into the habit, keep it short and simple.
Here’s a suggested routine to get you started:
Pray: Begin by asking God to meet with you and share what’s on your mind.
Read a Psalm: Choose one Psalm to read each day.
Quiet: Sit quietly and listen for what God might be saying to you.
Journal: Write down something that stands out to you from your time with God.
Establishing this routine with God in the mornings can start your day off with peace and clarity to carry you through the rest of your day.