Devotion of the Week
February 26, 2005
By: Albert Hughes, Pastor
Pineville United Methodist Church
Pineville, Kentucky

Starting the Day on the Right Foot

We have all heard the saying about getting up on the right side of the bed or if someone is grumpy we often say they must have gotten up on the wrong side of the bed. It would seem that the first things we do when we first wake up has a baring on the rest of what our day will be like.

If the way we start our day has such an influence on the rest of our day then we want to start it out in the best possible way. How can we get started on the right side of the bed? It all begins with our first thoughts when we wake up perhaps even before we open our eyes.

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:33 (KJV)

What is the first thing we think about when we wake up? Perhaps it is all the work we have to do or our aches and pains What if we began by thanking God for the new day we have been given and then give God the day to do whatever would bring him Glory? Before we have even opened our eyes we have already changed the whole perspective on our day.

After put our feet on the floor what comes next? I recently read in Bruce Wilkinson's book Secret's of the Vine that he has yet to meet a respected spiritual leader throughout history who has devotions at night. "Unless you get up early, you're unlike to break through to a deeper relationship with God." P. 107. There is something that happens when we begin our day with God. We give the highest priority to what we love most.

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind." Matt 22:37 (NRSV)

But can't I love God with all my heart and have my devotional time at night. Yes, we can, but how many of would want to go all day without spending time with the one we love until the last thing at night. We wouldn't. If we were planning on going on a long trip we wouldn't wait till we got back home from our journey to check the tires and oil and to fill up the gas tank. We do those things before we start so that our trip gets going the right way. If we wouldn't do on trips or with the one we love why would we want to put off spending time with the greatest love of our life, God. On our daily journey why would we want to wait till the end of the day to check with the one who is guiding us each day. It doesn't make sense does it.

If we begin our day with God then we are giving the first fruits of our day to God and getting out day started in the right direction. We are abiding in God's presence from the moment we wake up through out the day until we once again lay our head down to sleep. Our attitude and the way our day will go will indeed be different because of the way we started it.