The sun rise is casting pinks, blues, and light oranges across the sky. The birds are chirping their “good mornings” from a tree nearby. My black coffee is bitter to taste and steaming hot as I take the first sip. I savor every bit of this holy moment.
“Deep breath in” I lift my arms up to the sky, stretching from toe to finger tip, “exhaling everything”, I fold forward letting my hands float down by my sides. I move through a series of rising and folding, deepening my breath, taking in the new morning.
I feel the sleep from the night melt off of my body and each breath clear my mind. “Alas! A new day and one of the first to see the sunshine.” The birds and I have an unspoken agreement. What happens on the front porch in the early mornings is our secret.
Lately, it hasn’t been church. It hasn’t been the devotional or bible plan. It hasn’t been in the small group filled with other Christians. It’s been in the early hours of the morning that I’ve felt the closest to God’s spirit.
Does the spiritual discipline or the community you are a part of sometimes feel a little diluted? Almost like you aren’t quite getting what you need from it? The Bible study may touch the surface, or the sermon may get your mind jogging.
My question for you is this..
How do you stay engaged in your relationship with God when life gets overwhelming?
The older we get the more we accumulate. Stuff, relationships, bills, kids, and responsibilities take up space. We slowly begin to suffocate. For me, quite literally, my stress and anxiety manifest in the form of trouble breathing. Some lose sight of their joy. Others failing to find peace, resulting in easily getting angry.
Often times we get so busy, we aren’t even aware that the suffocating is happening.
At first, these mornings spent outside with the birds were made for the breathing, stretching, and coffee sipping. I put no pressure on myself to get anything more out of it than that. To my own surprise, I began bringing my bible out and flipping through to relevant chapters or the verse of the day.
The journaling of prayers and jotting down of goals began to feel like a sacred ground between God and I. A form of healing.
Without it, I feel lost in the chaos, or overruled by my own overthinking. The fresh air, stretching, and reflecting has evolved into more than just movement and coffee. This time has become a safe space to sit with the emotions, the circumstance, the changes, and the shifting that I am experiencing.
The enemy at war with our spirit wants us convinced that we have no time for resting. We have no time to stop what we are doing and observe the birds in the trees. Distraction is a tactic designed to disrupt God’s purpose for you and me.
At some point throughout your week, I encourage you to sit outside and notice everything. Use your eyes, ears, nose, and touch to experience your surroundings. Notice the saltiness in the air or the dense heat from the humidity. Take note of what comes up without being connected to your technology.
Below, I’ve shared a scripture that offers us general wisdom in all that we do. Feel free to copy and paste in your notes when you are having trouble finding the spirit of Jesus inside of you!
“Don’t just pretend to love others.
Really love them.
Hate what is wrong.
Hold tightly to what is good.
Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.
Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.
Rejoice in our confident hope.
Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.
When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them.
Always be eager to practice hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you.
Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them.
Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep.
Live in harmony with each other.
Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people.
And don’t think you know it all!
Never pay back evil with more evil.
Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable.
Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.”
Romans 12:9-18 NLT
After a few weeks of an early start to the day, I am feeling more refreshed in my spirit and stronger in my faith. My hope for you this week is that God will present you with a new routine, one that involves refilling your cup and a good soul nourishing.
Peace be with you always, all ways!
Local Pulse Staff Writer & Holy Moments Columnist, Makenna Curtis
