“I love my alarm clock.”
Said no one ever.
Rude, artificial awakenings have a way of making one cranky from go.
Or maybe it’s just me?
I count it as grace that somewhere along the way, God exchanged my ill-mannered, screaming alarm for the whisper of sunrise tiptoeing across the horizon.
Elegantly singing a breathtaking chorus of amber and rose, it softly presses through sheer morning mist. Fresh grace offered up on the welcome mat of a new day.
Tweet ThisEach morning, before my feet hit the floor, my heart hits the Throne.
New mercies I claim.
Safety I pray over my husband and children.
I ask Him to order my day. To interrupt me.
I thank Him. I question Him.
I plead. I listen. I invite.
I linger.
This Father of the fatherless, Lord of my life and Keeper of my soul, hovers in the quiet shadows of a bedroom.
Delicate rays rise, relieving the moon of her duties, imparting warm hope from shy curtain corners.
And, there, in the still of a newborn day, He waits—jealous for the first fruits of my life.
Across time, one sunrise after another, the eyes of my eyes are opened to a soul-anchoring truth:
When we keep prayer, prayer keeps us.
As we grow familiar with the melody of His voice and cadence of His step, the enemy’s seductive taunts lose their power.
And, oh how we live for those moments when we’re so engaged with the Spirit, all else is but white noise.
Time begets familiarity, begets kinship, begets devotion, begets reliance.
Reliance on a faithful God.
Friends, the richness of this truth I wouldn’t have tasted, but for those sacred moments with the One Who waits on the doorstep of dawn.
Like the relentless gentleman He is, He shows up, delighting on every word born in the heart of a girl who, for years, was blind to her worth. A heart that doesn’t trust a father’s word or know a mother’s touch.
Right there, in the birth of a new day, He speaks worth, belonging, enough-ness into my spirit.
And, I believe Him.
Because that’s what we do when we meet Him—day after day after day—we believe Him. We trust His goodness, see His heart.
Oh, how wild the grace that this Sustainer-Of-All would tenderly connect with His creation…not thinking it too much to count us among family.
From dawn’s early light till its drowsy descent—He waits and whispers, catches and carries—wooing our spirits to the holy ground of His presence.
As we meet Him in the hushed hour, morning upon morning—yesterday’s Maker, today’s Provider, tomorrow’s Author—stands at the edge of time and summons daybreak.
And, there, in the blush of dawn, we keep company with the One who hosts angels, Grace-Manna spilling fresh on morning dew. 
~ Blessed to link-up this week with some of my favorite people: Us, Coffee and Jesus, Monday of Many Blessings, #Live Then Give, Intentional Tuesday, RaRa Linkup, Tell His Story, Coffee For Your Heart, Sitting Among Friends, A Little R&R, Thought-Provoking Thursday, #Dance With Jesus, Grace & Truth, Faith Filled Fridays, Let Us Grow ~
Brenda,
Jealous of the first fruits of our day…wooing our spirits…oh how thankful I am for a lover of my heart who pursues me. Beautiful word pictures this morning!! Blessings sweet friend,
Bev xoxo
Me too, Bev…me too. And, He doesn’t even have to be in pursuit, He’s the One who should be pursued, not us…and yet, He does. <3
Thanks for always reading and always being an encouragement. ((xoxo))
I love to be “so engaged with the Spirit, all else is but white noise.” Beautiful words, dear friend. Enjoy your grace-manna today, as I will mine.
Grace-manna for all.
(Now, I’ve got an oprah-esque picture in my head…grace-manna for you, and grace-manna for you, and…) 
Thanks for coming by and reading, my friend. ((xoxo))
Thank you for linking with me today! Great post! My favorite part was, “Right there, in the birth of a new day, He speaks worth, belonging, enough-ness into my spirit.” This is so true but so often I tune that out as my feet hit the floor full speed into my day. I need to stop and listen.
Hey, Susan, nice to see you.
I hear ya, it’s so easy to forget the truth we’ve just heard…days are busy, and busyness is definitely a distraction from truth. Thankfully He’s a patient God, though. 
Welcome! Enjoyed connecting with you this week, look forward getting to know you. ((grace upon grace))
Thank you for this call to faithful relationship with the God who loves us!
Michele Morin recently posted…Partners in Revelation: Bringing Beauty into View
Hey, Michele, good to see you.
Thanks for coming by and reading. ((Hug))
I love mornings. The quiet, the newborn light. All of the things you write about–a thousand times YES!.
Me too, Kelly. Sunsets are beautiful, but nothing compares to a sunrise.
Sweet phrasing of yours, “newborn light.” 
Thanks for coming by and sharing, Kelly. Nice to meet you, look forward to getting to know you. 
((grace upon grace))
And this is beautiful –>’the melody of His voice and cadence of His step’
No alarm clocks around here these days, but I’m hearing you anyway, friend!
Linda Stoll recently posted…5 Game-Changing House Redo Lessons * Creating a Haven :: 4
Ooh, Linda, bet you’re loving the no-alarm clock life.
You’ve earned it. 
Love reading your house rehab stories. 
Thanks for stopping in and sharing, Linda. 
((xoxo))
Beautiful! When we keep prayer, prayer keeps us. Those words took my breath away. Letting things go to God at the beginning of each day will allow our days to be centered on what really matters from the moment we wake up. Thank you for these words today.
Mary Geisen recently posted…God’s Beauty Defined ~ Vol. 3
Thanks for your kind words of encouragement, Mary.
Great to see you; thanks for coming by and reading. xoxo
I love mornings. The stillness is precious to me. Loved this> “When we keep prayer, prayer keeps us.” Grateful to have stopped here today!
Grateful you stopped in today, too, Joanne.
I love mornings too; it’s the only time my house is quiet. 
Nice to see you, thanks for coming by and reading. 
((xoxo))
Brenda, I cherish my early morning times of prayer and Bible reading too. Nothing settles my heart or prepares me for the day better. Glad to be your neighbor today at Purposeful Faith.
Sounds like we’re kindred hearts with our mornings.
Happy to be neighboring you today, Lois. Good to connect. 
((grace upon grace))
Brenda, I love lingering and giving my day to God too. Appreciate your lyrical style.
Debbie Wilson recently posted…A Big God and Wonderful Counselor
Thanks for your sweet encouragement, Debbie. Praying for you. ((xoxo))
Love this: “Because that’s what we do when we meet Him—day after day after day—we believe Him. We trust His goodness, see His heart.” We see His faithfulness as we know He’s right there waiting for us, walking with us, revealing Himself to us.
Thank you, Brenda, for a fresh reminder of who God is!
Crystal Storms recently posted…Intentional Tuesday Linkup {Week 64}
Crystal, hope you have a great break, and enjoy your new home. <3 ((xoxo))
Wow. What beautiful words and imagery! I look forward to the day that I will have quiet mornings with God like this. In this season of life for me, my mornings are filled with the pitter patter of little feet. I just can’t seem to wake up earlier than my kids! Visiting you back from Rosalind’s blog!
Welcome, Shelly, nice to see you.
I hear ya, I remember those days well–and, I hate to sound like a granny, but you’ll be past them before you’re ready; it goes so fast. Thanks for coming by and sharing, great to have you. 
((grace upon grace))
Brenda, This post is absolutely beautiful!!! Your love for prayer and your God is so evident through every word that you wove here.
I especially loved when you said, “And, there, in the still of a newborn day, He waits—jealous for the first fruits of my life.”
Wonderful, wonderful encouragement.
Blessings.
Karen, so nice to see you. Your kind words bless me, thank you. Hope you have a great “blogocation.”
xoxo
Such great reminders today! I often forget to pray. Sure, I throw up the “HELP!” distress signal pretty quickly, but to really be in that place of joining with God….that is what I long for. Thank you for reminding me! I love the name of your blog too!
I think we all do, Becky. God seems to have made us with that innate longing. Thanks for coming by today and sharing your sweet encouragement.
((grace upon grace))
Yes! Yes! Prayer keeps us!
Thank God for the morning and for the evening
God bless Brenda
Ifeoma Samuel recently posted…What Is Your Addiction? and Vlog
Hi, Ifeoma, always a pleasure to see you.
Thank you for stopping in and being an encouragement. ((xoxo))
Beautiful, Brenda! I love mornings. I love sunrises. Your words this morning make me want to re-greet my day! Blessings to you!
Me too, Diane. Mornings and sunrises are definitely born in the heart of God…so renewing and calming.
Thanks for coming by and reading. 
((xoxo))
I am not a morning person, but you make it sound wonderful!
Sarah Donegan recently posted…Wait in Expectation
This is a beautiful post. Unfortunately I have to set an alarm clock, but I do love the mornings when I wake up before it and have time to pray before getting up. It’s so important to find moments, whenever they are in the day, to step aside from the busyness and focus on God. Visiting from Let Us Grow.
Welcome, Carly.
Yes, “moments to step aside from the busyness and focus on God”…amen. 
Thanks for coming by and sharing, nice to meet you. 
((grace upon grace))
Such a thought provoking and inspiring post Brenda I am not a fan of alarm clocks in the morning myself but I feel blessed each day that the Lord awakens me. I thank Him for allowing me to see another day. May I grow familiar with the melody of His voice as He speaks to me. I love so many parts of this post. I will be sharing! Blessings to you and yours this holiday weekend!
Horace Williams Jr recently posted…Are you making Beautiful Music for Almighty God?
Hey Horace, great to see you.
Thanks for bringing up the perspective of being grateful for each new day the Lord gives us. Amen. 
Thanks for coming by and sharing your kindness and encouragement. 
((hug))
I am definitely not a morning person! When I worked, I had to use an alarm clock to wake up in time. Now, like yourself, I have banished my alarm clock and LOVE having the morning light slowly wake me to a new dawn of each day!! Spending those morning moments with my Savior is so precious to me, too!! Thanks for sharing. I stopped over from the Grace-Filled Friday Link-up.
Ah, a kindred spirit.
Welcome, Ann, so glad you stopped in and shared. Great to meet you. ((grace upon grace))
Beautiful words, Brenda. I was not a morning person for most of my life. But thankfully, through the years, even using that dreaded alarm clock, God has changed me. I wake up early and can’t wait to get up (most of the time LOL) and spend time with Him, reading His Word, and later writing out a devotional. But there is NO DOUBT that it’s been His grace that has transformed me. Thanks for sharing.
Donna @ Soul Survival recently posted…“Once Saved Always Saved?” May 29
Hey, Donna.
How great that you write a daily devotional. A That’s a good way to keep the thoughts fresh, I bet. Thanks for coming by and sharing, nice to see you. 
((grace upon grace))
Brenda, this is such a lovely, inspiring post. I need to read this again first thing tomorrow morning to remember it. I love the idea of making God our first thought and prayer our first action.
Before our feet hit the floor. (This could help me recover from jet lag. SO HARD to get up in the mornings right now. 
)
Your comment on my blog, by the way, was also so lovely and thoughtful. Thank you for encouraging me.
Hey, friend.
Will be praying with you about that jet lag. I bet it does take a little while to adjust. Hope your ministry is going well over there, prayers for y’all. ((xoxo))
This is a beautiful and descriptive display of God’s wooing us in the early morning hours. It tugs at my heart for a more regular quite time with Him. Blessings!
Barbie recently posted…52Lists Project v. 20 // My Summer Goals
Hey Barbie, thanks for your sweet words of encouragement today.
So nice to see you. ((xoxo))
Lovely post! “God exchanged my ill-mannered, screaming alarm for the whisper of sunrise tiptoeing across the horizon.” I love this!
I also love the idea of the Spirit of God hovering in a bedroom, like He has nothing more important to do than to commune with His child at the beginning of a new day! God is so wonderful!
Agreed, so wonderful!
<3 Thanks for stopping by and offering such sweet encouragement today, Ruth. 
((grace upon grace))
I need to post this beside my bed: “Each morning, before my feet hit the floor, my heart hits the Throne.” Beautiful words, Brenda! I seem to have hit the ground running the past few months. Now that school is out and my son is sleeping later, I really hope to make some important changes in my morning routine. Thanks for your inspiration here!
Candace recently posted…Why I Quit Talking & Started Listening to God
I hear ya, Candace. School mornings are hectic. This is our last week here, and I’ll be so glad for some quieter mornings.
Thanks for coming by and sharing; blessed by your visit. Happy summer to y’all. 
((grace upon grace))
I love your post, Brenda. It stirred my soul. I am choosing it as my feature for this week’s Grace and Truth link-up. Please stop by on Friday to get the ‘I was featured’ button to add to your post so your friends can celebrate with you!
Amy, what a sweet blessing. Thank you for taking the time to encourage another sister in this way. My heart is full; Thank you.
Look forward to getting to know you, and encouraging you on this path as well. ((grace upon grace upon grace)) Xoxo
I have this post saved…I continue to go back and re-read it. It is so full and rich. You make me yearn for those moments with the Father…..
Jeralyn recently posted…HEAL-THY LIVING….
Jeralyn, thank you for sharing and for being such a sweet encouragement to me. Grace to you, my friend. <3
((xoxo))
Well, my alarm clock is a little worthless lately as my dog wakes me up way waaaaaay ahead of time. Like when it’s pitch dark outside still.
This is a good read.
Beautiful words, Brenda. Makes time with God in the morning a love offering.