Before the Day Begins: Meeting God in the Quiet
Most mornings, I wake up before the sun. I don’t set an alarm. It’s not about being disciplined or trying to beat the sunrise. It’s just part of how I’m wired. Over the years, I’ve come to see it not as a quirk, but as a gift. Those early hours, before anyone else is stirring, have become some of the most meaningful parts of my day.
Especially in the spring and summer, I find myself drawn to our prayer garden. The air is still cool, sometimes cloaked in fog. The trees stand quiet like sentinels. Flowers and plants, touched by dew, seem to stretch up toward the light that’s just beginning to peek through. The birds start to sing. And for a few precious moments, the world holds its breath.
There’s something sacred about that space. In the stillness, I often find my soul finally settling down. My thoughts aren’t racing yet. My heart is open. And most of all, I sense the nearness of God.
Of course, the day always comes. The coffee pot gurgles. The phone begins to buzz. Work needs to be done. But I’ve learned that if I don’t stop and meet with God before that all starts, I’m usually playing catch-up in my spirit the rest of the day.
David wrote in Psalm 5:3,
"My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord; In the morning I will direct it to You, and I will look up."
He didn’t treat the morning as a throwaway moment. He viewed it as a sacred time to seek the Lord, to speak honestly with Him, and to look up in expectation.
That word expectation, has really stayed with me. David wasn’t just sending words into the air. He believed God was listening. He expected God to move, to speak, to be present. That posture of the heart changes how we pray, and it changes how we walk through our day.
In those early moments in the garden, I try to do the same. I bring what’s on my heart. Some days it’s gratitude. Some days it’s questions or burdens. Some days it’s just silence, because words feel too heavy. But always, I look up. Not to the sky, but to the Lord. I ask Him to shape the day ahead, to guide my thoughts, to be near in the things I understand and the things I don’t.
And He is. Every single time.
So whether you’re naturally up early or not, I want to encourage you to find a quiet place each day. Maybe it’s the corner of your porch, your kitchen table, or even your commute with the radio off. Whatever it looks like for you, begin your day by turning your heart toward God. Give Him your voice. Look up with expectation. You’ll be amazed at how He meets you there.
A Prayer for Today
Father, thank You for the gift of morning. Thank You for the quiet that gives space to hear Your voice and remember who You are. Help me to bring my whole heart to You at the start of each day. Let me speak to You honestly, and help me look up with trust, knowing You are already present and working in my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
