Romans 13:11 But make sure that you don't get so absorbed and exhausted in taking care of all your day-by-day obligations that you lose track of the time and doze off, oblivious to God. The night is about over, dawn is about to break. Be up and awake to what God is doing!

When we get too busy, doing our daily grind… we become oblivious to the things of God.  Our morning times with Him need to be intentional.  This verse not only has a literal meaning, but also a metaphoric one.  We can get so absorbed and exhausted in ourselves.  Our problems, our happiness, our pain, our grief, our purpose, our kids, our friends, our planning…  This self absorption is exhausting!  When we are so lost and focused on ourselves, we are asleep to what God wants to do in our lives.  If we can wake up out of this nighttime, dark state of self, we will see that God lives in the bright light of morning and that He is working!  We need to not only be awake and aware, but we need to be up and about, actively noticing and being about God.  When our focus switches from self to God, the exhaustion is replaced by energy.

Being active about God… what does this mean for me?  I work hard to arrange my day and priorities so that my actual quiet time with Him happens in the morning, while my house is still quiet.  This also means daily getting His thoughts and direction and words for me in my spirit, and thinking about them throughout the day.  While I’m doing dishes -remembering God’s promises, in the midst of the children’s math lessons- knowing what God has called us to, climbing the mountains of laundry-thanking Him for his provision, disciplining one of the kids-receiving his unconditional love.  He is in and of everything.

Lord, thank you for being about me and my life.  I want to be awake and up and about YOU.  Keep my focus off of my pain and pressures, and on Your healing and promises.