AJ and a LATTE

I have said it once and I will continue to say it: I will take a sneaky God over a bold satan any day!!!

It’s no secret that I am a terrible sleeper. I have never required a ton of sleep. Mornings are not my friend. Coffee should be offered intravenously and do NOT expect me to people well before two cups of coffee and 9:00 a.m.! I have my best sleep in afternoon naps and wake up at pooped most days.

Well, several months ago, God started waking me up between 4:00 and 5:00 in the morning. Joke is on me! You don’t have to people at that time of day! I have come to covet this time. Sometimes I do devotionals, sometimes I doze on the sofa, sometimes I write. But this has become my unadulterated, uninterrupted time with Him. In all of the busy-ness of life, often times God was the one I asked to take a backseat. Totally makes sense, right? Creator of the universe and author of my salvation, “Excuse me, God, I’m really busy today. Would you mind if I just run around and do my frantic human-thing and you take care of the big stuff? I don’t have time for you, but I am bold enough to ask you to be my King.” Well, God is the ultimate Gentleman. He was so tolerant for so long, but He knew what I needed better than I did. Hello, 4AM and zero distractions from Him.

Have you ever smelled the morning air before the crack of dawn? Have you ever heard a quiet so deep that you felt alone in the world? Have you ever had time to just sit and listen to the rhythm of the planet? It is beautiful. God uses this time with me to allow me to rest in Him, not sleep, but be at true peace. The world will start with the sun, but this is my time with the Father. I guess I should faithfully use this time to read, to study, to soak in His word, but sometimes it is so nice to simply listen.

When is the last time you gave yourself time and permission to JUST BE? When did you simply exist in harmony with everything around you still, not frantic? This is when God pours into me. Some of my best thoughts come from Him while the world is still asleep and unaware. I hope everyone finds their own 4AM. It doesn’t have to be at that time. I have come to realize that really it is more of a place: a place of refuge, a place of true peace.

This morning I raise my cup-a-joe to 4AM. Today it was closer to 5:00 (He knew I needed the sleep), but He and I have loved sharing our time with you. May your heart and mind be open enough to find your own 4AM and discover how sweet that date time with the Dad of all Creation can be.

Until next time…