RISE

“He who appoints the sun to shine by day, who decrees the moon and stars to shine by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar— the Lord Almighty is His name.”

Good morning everyday missionaries! 

I woke up this morning to a perfectly timed cup of coffee. All was right with the world as that first sip hit my lips, slid down my esophagus and warmed my tummy.

It was still dark outside— just the way I like it when I’m about to bow before my Creator and give the day to Him. There’s something about the darkness that creates a closeted atmosphere, a quiet space where everything is still and yet shrouded in mystery.

What will this day bring?

All I see is black— and I’m not just talking about my coffee.

“Get up for Jesus! It’s important!” My alarm shouts at me in its automated Siri voice.

This morning presents the blank slate on which God will write His story through me today. That’s a HUGE responsibility as a believer— to hold the weight of living for Him today. But guess what?

It doesn’t matter if I know (or think I know) what this day is going to bring because God knows. Umm, He’s so far ahead that it’s almost unfair.

Phew! That’s the way I like it!

Rising in the morning is actually a terrifying action— a courageous act of tenacity and strength. If we knew what would happen this day, would we even want to get out of bed?

Probably not.

Guess what? Just rising out of bed makes you a warrior! BOOM. I said it.

When you start your day reading your Bible, it is the equivalent to putting on a set of armor, which is a necessity for followers of Jesus in a world of sex, drugs and Justin Beiber (I’m sorry, I meant “Bizzle”)? When you commit the day to Him before it has even begun, you’re displaying that you are ready! You’re strapping, packing, stretching, adrenaline pumping…ready to walk by FAITH, ready to take on whatever lies ahead.

It’s like filling the car up before a road trip.

Your tank is full. Your JESUS tank! Haha and you can go anywhere, do anything and carry the confidence that you’re going to make it through.

When you begin your days with God you’re not only walking by faith, you’re saying “Hey God, I need you. I don’t know what’s going down today but I do know that good or bad, I’m going to need you. Every hour I will need you.”

2 Corinthians 5:7

“I will walk by faith even when I cannot see…”

I will. Walk. By Faith.

I will walk by faith on the days when everything is right, when the coffee is perfectly brewed, where my friends are plenty and the homework is scarce.

I will walk by faith on the days when my dog dies, when my car won’t start, where I feel unappreciated or have bills to pay.

Why? Because this is what we’re here for. All of it. The good and the bad— we are here to give, to love, to be the ones to show that God has overcome. But we don’t have to do it alone.

We’ve got God. We’ve got His word. We’ve been given His son as sacrifice for us.

Today is His day! Go live it with courage and strength and confidence!

And if our God is for us, who can ever stop us?