First Light
I wasn’t sure I liked what it said.
My pastor suggested reading Psalm 63 as a daily practice during Lent. I embarked on it with anticipation, certain that I’d have the whole thing memorized by Easter just from reading it consistently. Day in and day out, I was pricked by just the first verse, the first few words:
You, God, are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
— Psalm 63:1a NIV
The word earnestly was my sticking point. It seemed to be the critical word in the sentence and yet I was uncertain of its intended meaning. I turned to the other translations I commonly read (NLT and ESV), and found the same word there. Rooting around in other versions, the New King James offered another word in its place:
O God, You are my God;
Early will I seek You;
— Psalm 63:1 NKJV
Now early and earnestly have fairly different meanings in my mind. And I knew which one I preferred.
The imperfect tense of this Hebrew verb translated as seek has connotations of time, thus seeking God early, like the dawn. In English, the translation requires two words: seek and early. In the original language, it’s just one word: shachar.
I’ve never been a stickler for ‘quiet times’ being first thing in the morning — I just hope that we do meet with Him daily. Perhaps that’s because my brain doesn’t awake as quickly as my body does; it’s easier for me to go for a run in the wee hours of the morning than it is to internalize the meaning of a Scriptural passage. Yet as I ruminated on this verse, I was reminded of the Biblical concept of ‘first fruits’ as it relates to giving and tithing.
One of the principles in giving God our first fruits lies in the belief that He will sustain us. Instead of waiting until the end of the season to see how the crops produced before giving their tithe, the Israelites trusted God in advance to meet their needs and gave out of the first harvest. This was an expression of trust in Him regardless of what the remainder of the growing season would produce.
Especially when my children were much younger, I decided that early wake times to spend with the Lord weren’t feasible for me. Sleep was a precious commodity. Little people waking at all hours of the night for feedings, potty trips (or accidents), vomiting, nightmares and the like made for far too many disruptions to my sleep cycle. I felt justified in sleeping for the full duration permitted me by my precious children.
Yet that mindset flew in the face of what God tells us about giving from our first fruits.
Reading Psalm 63, and especially that first verse, convinced me of it. Rising early to meet with the Lord — not because I am rested, but because He is worthy — is an expression of trust that He will supply what I need to get through my day. Waiting until the end of the day (the final harvest) to give to God from the portion of my time and energy that remains, is antithetical to the trust principle involved in giving from first fruits.
Now the alarm rings a little earlier to give God the first fruits of my time, my day. The sky outside is darker, the house quieter. My intellectual faculties seem less sharp when applied to the Word, and my prayers commensurately foggier. But I’m operating on trust: trust that God speaks as well in the dark as in the day. Trust that though I may be tired, He will sustain me through the day.
He hasn’t failed me yet.
Friend, hear grace. Please don’t misinterpret my words here as a dogmatic stance on early morning quiet times. Rather it is merely an expression of how God impressed this on me. He wants to hear from you always — no matter the hour.
Seek Him earnestly if not early.
I appreciate your honesty in this, Kirsten. I felt the same way when my kids were younger. I’m a morning person, so it’s a little easier for me to get up, but the pull of my tired flesh is still pretty strong. I know He’s honored by your commitment, and that’s the important thing.
I appreciate your honesty in this, Kirsten. I felt the same way when my kids were younger. I’m a morning person, so it’s a little easier for me to get up, but the pull of my tired flesh is still pretty strong. I know He’s honored by your commitment, and that’s the important thing.
I appreciate your honesty in this, Kirsten. I felt the same way when my kids were younger. I’m a morning person, so it’s a little easier for me to get up, but the pull of my tired flesh is still pretty strong. I know He’s honored by your commitment, and that’s the important thing.
You got to the heart of the matter, Susan: honoring Him. Thanks!
Good word, friend. I am so NOT a morning person, and have come up against this same sticking point at several times in my faith life. I wholeheartedly agree with the “first fruits” concept of trust in His provision. So why is it so hard to put it into practice? Oh, the flesh.
Good word, friend. I am so NOT a morning person, and have come up against this same sticking point at several times in my faith life. I wholeheartedly agree with the “first fruits” concept of trust in His provision. So why is it so hard to put it into practice? Oh, the flesh.
Good word, friend. I am so NOT a morning person, and have come up against this same sticking point at several times in my faith life. I wholeheartedly agree with the “first fruits” concept of trust in His provision. So why is it so hard to put it into practice? Oh, the flesh.
Good word, friend. I am so NOT a morning person, and have come up against this same sticking point at several times in my faith life. I wholeheartedly agree with the “first fruits” concept of trust in His provision. So why is it so hard to put it into practice? Oh, the flesh.
I’m sure the Israelites’ flesh railed against their offerings as well — as measured in hunger pangs, perhaps? I have to say that the conviction God pressed on me made it easier… I’m hoping that the habit forms while the conviction is fresh. Feel free to check me later on it. 🙂
You got to the heart of the matter, Susan: honoring Him. Thanks!
Hi Kirsten,
I appreciate your study of the root meaning of words and how God is teaching you . . . I had to come to similar conclusions as well, although how the Lord taught me was a little different.
I’ve had to have my attitude rearranged more than once b/c of legalistic backgrounds . . . and I am proof that God can change our motivations from ‘duty’ to ‘delight’ — Tis’ so sweet to commune with Him alone, when it is quiet and still and the birds start to announce the glory of creation!
Bless you Kirsten,
Love, Hester 😉
Hi Kirsten,
I appreciate your study of the root meaning of words and how God is teaching you . . . I had to come to similar conclusions as well, although how the Lord taught me was a little different.
I’ve had to have my attitude rearranged more than once b/c of legalistic backgrounds . . . and I am proof that God can change our motivations from ‘duty’ to ‘delight’ — Tis’ so sweet to commune with Him alone, when it is quiet and still and the birds start to announce the glory of creation!
Bless you Kirsten,
Love, Hester 😉
Hi Kirsten,
I appreciate your study of the root meaning of words and how God is teaching you . . . I had to come to similar conclusions as well, although how the Lord taught me was a little different.
I’ve had to have my attitude rearranged more than once b/c of legalistic backgrounds . . . and I am proof that God can change our motivations from ‘duty’ to ‘delight’ — Tis’ so sweet to commune with Him alone, when it is quiet and still and the birds start to announce the glory of creation!
Bless you Kirsten,
Love, Hester 😉
Hi Kirsten,
I appreciate your study of the root meaning of words and how God is teaching you . . . I had to come to similar conclusions as well, although how the Lord taught me was a little different.
I’ve had to have my attitude rearranged more than once b/c of legalistic backgrounds . . . and I am proof that God can change our motivations from ‘duty’ to ‘delight’ — Tis’ so sweet to commune with Him alone, when it is quiet and still and the birds start to announce the glory of creation!
Bless you Kirsten,
Love, Hester 😉
From duty to delight… love that, Hester! Hopefully my footnote won’t leave anybody wondering about my stance on this. Would love to hear your thoughts on how you got to that conclusion!
From duty to delight… love that, Hester! Hopefully my footnote won’t leave anybody wondering about my stance on this. Would love to hear your thoughts on how you got to that conclusion!
With the chaotic twists and turns my life has taken in recent months, it has become increasingly difficult to find that rhythm. I’m confident it will come, but your post convicted and reminded my heart that spending time with Him – first thing! – is truly an issue of deciding and committing to do this! Just like when you are running or exercising – it’s that place of pushing through and past those places where you are tempted to slow down, stop or “rest” (when you really don’t need to yet).
Thanks, my friend!
Jeannette
Wishing you many happy mornings on your back patio, Jeannette! He’ll meet you there, just like He always does.