I couldn’t sleep, so I went ahead and got out of bed at 4:00 this morning.
It was dark and quiet. The only light was the harsh light of my work computer. I worked on a “work problem” until about 5:00, hopefully solving it (having to do with billing and accounting). I then moved into reading, studying and prayer.
Since I didn’t get but an hour or so of sleep last night, I’ve laid back down to get some rest before the first teleconference of the day, but my mind won’t quiet.
This is the second night in a row that I’ve been up at 4:00. And so I wonder, what time did Jesus get up to spend with His father? It doesn’t really matter, I’m just curious. Like so many other things in scripture, I wish we had been given more details such as that. But it’s trivial, really.
Mark 1:35 says: And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.
What was it like? Was the weather cool? Was the sun on the horizon? Or was it still dark outside, with the stars? I know I much prefer being up before the sun–once the sun is up I feel the day is half over.
Desolate sounds so negative, but it’s not really. Desolate makes me think of being alone, but He wasn’t alone. But the place was desolate—void of any distractions, people, demands. It is there that He prayed.
I am grateful for the solitude of early morning. Before the day breaks. Before the day gets away. Because, without that time, I am goofed up by noon. Without that time of reading and scripture work and writing and prayer, I am not well. Without that time to tell God that I love Him, as hard as that is sometimes, then my soul can not settle. It reminds me of a song I can barely listen to…..Before the Day. The lyrics are almost overwhelming—because they apply almost too closely to my life. Especially the concept that God watches me while I’m sleeping. That I can’t face the day without Him. Whew.
Here are the Lyrics plus a video of the song. I hope you will also see yourself in these words and consider them carefully.
Last night when I was sleeping
You were watching over me
While I dreamt about tomorrow
You knew my every need
Now another day is waiting
For me to make it through
And there’s no way that I could face it without You
Before the day slips away
I want to stop and say
I love You I love You
Before the world rushes in again
I want to stop and say there’s none above You
There’s none above You
I’ll just be still and know You are God
Be still and know You are God
There’s something about the morning
The stillness of it all
It calms my heart to hear You
When You gently call
Here I am in Your presence
Where I long to be
Alone with You in the silence
Bring down Your love and Your mercy
Whisper softly to me
