How to plan your day ∙∙

How to plan your day ∙∙

O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly. – Psalms 63:1

Psalms 5:3 Listen to my voice in the morning, LORD. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.

Psalms 37:5 Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will act on your behalf.

Born into the harsh realities of slavery amidst the turmoil of the Civil War in Diamond, Missouri, in the 1860s, George Washington Carver faced difficult challenges from the start. Institutional barriers due to racial prejudices prevented him from attending most schools. Nevertheless, his parents educated him at home and fostered an unquenchable desire for knowledge.

At fourteen, he left his home to pursue education, eventually gaining admission into Simpson College and Iowa State. Despite all odds, Carver emerged as one of his era’s leading inventors and agricultural scientists. He pioneered the concept of crop rotation to combat soil exhaustion and invented over 100 products derived from peanuts, including dyes, plastics, and even gasoline. His remarkable contributions earned him the title “Black Leonardo” by Time magazine in 1941.

Carver’s life took a spiritual turn when a Christian couple befriended him. The Bible became his constant companion and trusted guide until his final days.

So, what was the secret behind Carver’s extraordinary achievements despite seemingly insurmountable challenges?

Carver would be the first to tell you it was because of the Lord. “I have made it a rule to go out and sit . . . at four o’clock every morning and ask the good Lord what I am to do that day. Then I go ahead and do it.” (Scientists of Faith, books, google.com).

Undeniably, Carver possessed a wealth of natural talent, intelligence, discernment, curiosity, and insight. But what truly set him apart was something much more significant: his daily communion with the Father, the living God. This spiritual practice was the cornerstone of his success and made all the difference in his life.

REFLECT & PRAY

Children of the King who walk closely with the Father prioritize their lives differently. Spending time with the Father early in the morning frequently takes precedence.

Father thank You for wanting to spend time with me. I welcome the encounter. Encourage me to be wise in setting my priorities and making time with You my highest priority.

INSIGHT

What is an encounter with God? “An encounter with God takes place when He confronts us. Through these divine encounters, the Lord comforts us, challenges us, heals and forgives us. He changes us.” (Stanley). When it comes to encountering the Father, He is in complete control. We can do nothing to manipulate Him or “call the shots.” Any illusion of control must be relinquished.

If we cannot manipulate or control the Father, what can we do to encourage such encounters? We can make ourselves available to Him. We learn to listen. We learn to hear and recognize His voice. We actively seek His direction, guidance, and instruction. “When we make ourselves willing and available, the Father will encounter us” (Stanley).

Learn from George Washington Carver. Carver made it a daily practice to set aside time to meet and commune with the Father. Every morning, he would spend time with the Father and seek His plan for the day ahead. He experienced a life of great fulfillment. He serves as an example of life worth emulating.

This brings us to a simple question: When is the best time to seek the Father’s guidance for the day? Logically, it would seem to be as early as possible. Carver, for instance, began his day at 4 AM, earnestly the Father’s face. Psalms 63 beautifully captures this sentiment.

Psalms 63:1 O God, you are my God; I earnestly [early] search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you, as in a dry and weary land without water.

The Hebrew word shahar translates earnestly or early. The verb shaharinitially meant to “look for dawn.” It is derived from the noun shahar,which means dawn. Thus, it meant seeking early and putting first things first. It came to mean seeking God early, prioritizing Him above all else, and pursuing Him with eagerness and diligence.

As soon as David arose in the morning, he became aware of his intense need for the Father, just as he needed water shortly after waking up (Constable). David made it a point to seek the Father early in the morning when his mind was uncluttered, focused, sharp, and clear.

When psalmists speak of their intense longing to be with the Father, they often describe their yearning as thirst.

Psalms 42:1 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for You, O God.

David characterizes his need to spend time with the Father as thirst. As he had been parched in the wilderness and thirsted for water, his soul was parched and pants for the Father. Just thinking about the Father created a longing, soul thirst for David.

David had learned to depend upon the Father every day. He probably could not imagine beginning a day without Him. His need was intense. During the best years of his life, David depended on the Father daily.

Each of us has daily routines that we follow upon waking. Wouldn’t it be wise to include an encounter with the Father in our daily routine?

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© Dr. H 2024