In The Morning.

I have always been the night owl, the "insomniac," the sleep-in-until-noon girl. I lived my life at night, and I was fine with that. There's nothing wrong with it at all, really. I've always liked late nights, but unfortunately, I also have an intense love for early mornings. The two of those don't mix well, so I ended up choosing the easy one.January threw me into a lot of unexpected moments. I needed a lot of encouragement and a lot of love. But because I'm not living in a close-knit college community like I was last semester, that's something that I could only find in Jesus. So, starting on January 2, I set my alarm(s) to wake me up so I could spend some quality time seeking Him. I didn't think it would become a habit, and I definitely didn't think it would last more than a few days, because I'm so comfortable in my late night life. But this time, for whatever reason, it stuck.I'm not going to act like I'm waking up at five o'clock every morning, because that is definitely not the case. But I am starting my day much earlier than lunchtime nowadays. Through my mornings with Jesus, I have realized so much about myself and so much about Him. Some of those little discoveries are more on the shallow side. For example, I know now that if I start my day with two cups of coffee and some sunshine, that day is much more fulfilling. The more sunshine I take in, the more sunshine I can pour out.Other discoveries are deeper. God has shown himself to me in ways that He never has before, more consistently than ever before. I feel my need for Him so strongly that I can't go a day without our morning coffee dates, and if I do, I can see the results of that. Something I have learned more recently has found a permanent home in my heart. Seeing the way David responds to his loneliness in Psalm 31 is changing the way I respond to my own loneliness."I have been forgotten like one who is dead; I have become like a broken vessel... but I trust in you, O Lord; I say, 'You are my God.' My times are in your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors." -Psalm 31:12,14-15David feels that loneliness so deeply that he feels dead and forgotten. But despite that heavy weight on his heart, he is trusting that God is holding his life in His hands and rescuing him from the evil surrounding him. That's faith, friends. Even in your loneliness, your times are in His hand. He's got you, even when no one else does.Make coffee dates with Jesus a priority, ladies and gents. Whether that's in the morning or in the middle of the night (although I would not recommend drinking coffee that late), find a time and make it consistent. We all need the Lord's guidance every day, desperately. Don't forget the weight of that. Setting aside time for Jesus is powerful, and it changes everything.words by Lucy Boyland and photo by Arianna Taralson