5:16 Club: Day 27, In the Morning...

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,
for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go,
for to you I lift up my soul.

Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God;
may your good Spirit
lead me on level ground.

Psalm 143:8,10

As I finished reading through the Psalms this morning, these two particular verses from Psalm 143 reminded me why I am up at 5 whatever, while my body and mind were trying to convince me that I ought to be in bed. Twenty-seven days into this journey, and the Enemy is still prowling around seeking to devour me. The arguments are subtle. "Oh, sleep is good. You need to get more rest. You can find time for the Lord later. Does it really need to be such a dramatic early rising?" I hear myself negotiating and listening to the pull to give up and turn back to my old ways. They were easier, more comfortable at times.

How do I know this is the Enemy speaking? Because the truth is not fully being told. What about how much my life has changed over the past 27 days? My temper has settled dramatically. I am much less irritable. I've meditated on Scriptures that have guided my days and influenced others for Jesus. I've been a better wife, mother, and friend, because I've been filled up by the Lord in the first portion of my day...and with more than just a devotional verse of Scripture. I've cast so many cares upon Jesus in these 5 whatever conversations, that I can actually feel the burdens lifted.

Committing thy ways unto the Lord is never easy. It is hard and the opposition is constant. Being prepared for the battle requires focus and concentration, putting on all the armor and using it as a skilled warrior. We can't buy the lie that it will get easier. Twenty-seven days is just the beginning of a journey -- not nearly the end -- for as Christ's disciple, the journey must continue with perseverance toward a heavenly destination.

Lord Jesus, thank you for be the source of all strength and all truth in every situation. May we humbly turn toward you, trust in your ways, and commit our whole lives into your service. In Jesus' Name, Amen!