Sun Rises and Sun Sets

Praise Him For His Fathfulness (Proverbs 3:1-35) "It is good to give thanks to the Lord, And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, And Your faithfulness every night" (Psalm 92:1-2) Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble. When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet. Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken".(Proverbs 3:23-26) Morning and Night "God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night." So the evening and the morning were the first day.(Genisis 1:5) Morning and night have been a part of our existance since the time of creation. I know, it does not command a certain time in the bible that we should get out of bed. But it does suggest that waking up early and spending time in prayer and communion with God is a good thing to do diligently and to seek God in prayer. In so doing, one avoids the trap of becoming lasy and no good. As I have looked to the bible many times over the years, for a way to spend more time with my God and making it a daily desire rather than a want or just a need without any teeth. I have seen biblical figures who were those examples, those included Jesus Himslef and also King David both of them often used the early morning hours even vbefore sun rise to find that quiet place with God before the beginning of another busy day. A few scriptures to help make that decission, - (Mark 1:35) "Jesus rose "very early in the morning, while it was still dark," and went off to a solitary place to pray." I love this image of Jesus, in a quiet place, maybe under a tree or standing in a meadow, with out stretched hands and head bowd. As the Sun rises in the Eastern skies, and He has been communing with His Father. - (Psalm 5:3) says-"In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly". Friends, this is what I have found, that in the quietness of the morning at my desk, my mind is on the Lord and His goodness sourounds me, and I wait and meditate on what He has for me in the day to come. - (Psalm 63:1) David comes to God early, and says this - just listen to =his heart - O God, (do you hear it) "O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You. In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water." He may have been in a desert place physically, but I think David was talking of his heart, his life, he was spiritually in a dry place and he was seeking God in the morning, to give him strength for the hard day ahead. I believe that after I began rising early in the morning and taking that time in my quiet place with God, my days got more productive. It seemed to make it feel like my hard work paid off, I was more responsible and attentive,and I was ready to hear God and obey His voice. A big key to that I believe was in getting to know Jesus as my prime example and seeking to patern my life after His. The Proverbs 31 woman "rose while it is yet night and collected the food needed to make breakfast. If that worked for her, then why shouldnt I rise and take time to speak with my God, before my day starts. (Genesis 22:3, Joshua 3:1) you see Abraham/Moses setting the example, as faithful leaders often rising early in the morning" to carry out God’s commands or embark on missions. Not only are there examples of getting up and getting going in the morning, there are warning that will happen if you don't. There are warnings against being lazy and not getting up and getting going. The bible says to much sleep may not be good for you. It will cause poverty and you will loose your focus on the day. I love the wisdom of the Proverbs, look at (Proverbs 6:9–11) "How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—and poverty will come on you like a bandit..." And, (Proverbs 20:13) "Do not love sleep or you will grow poor; stay awake and you will have food to spare". Now listen, I believe in a balanced life stile, God made us to work in the day and to sleep at night, I beleieve in getting enough sleep, we can and do become workaholices. Whech, let me be honest, I was and at times still am, and that too is not good. While ealy rising is very strongly suggested, the bible also strongly stresses that waking early and working much, is not good, if it is all self motivated, rather than trust in God, and seeking His will for your life. Read - Psalm 127:2: "It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep" (John 9:4) Here I believe Jesus was speaking of when He was going to leave and go back to heaven, and He had to do the work God sent Him to do, before going back to the Father. Also suggesting, that it may be short to do the work we must do before Christ returns. Also I believe it is says, God gives us the time in the day time to get our work done and then when night comes we sleep. Here is what it says -"We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work." (This speaks of using the daylight hours for purpose and labor before night falls). Once it is dark it is hard to work and do it well, because it is hard to see. There is a time to work and a time to sleep. I personally at my age love my 9-5 Rest, or more acratly (10-6) Yes, I have found that a good night’s sleep is a gift from God. It is one of those gifts you do not realize how important it is, until you cannot get it, and sleep just will not come. I have had some nights like that, but over all, I have come to sleep well, and most times in peace. I praise God for that. Just as I have recently experienced a brused rib or two, or fracture, I'm not sure which, sure does show how important it is to have bones that work. Also catching a flue tells us how important our health is. I tell you, if you have a night or two that are sleepless, seems to have a way of turning a normal night of rest into a land of golden prayer, and I often pray for peace, a peaceful sleep, so I can function the next day. Like I said, over the years circomstances and worry have stolen many hours of sleep from me. When that happens, I realize that the gift of sleep and rest should not be taken for granted. It also tells me how blessed I am now to be able to sleep in peace and get my rest for the day that will follow I am so glad those sleepless night are now mostly gone, because I have learned to place my cares into the hands of God for the night, and in the morning I pick them up andf ask for His help to make good choices with the new day He had given. Oh dont get me wrong, I still have the dreaded bathroom break during the night, but also the relief of going back to sleep most times. Plus, I have much pillow slipping and tossing and turning during the night, but I sleep, praise God for that. Yes, it is good to read the last part of Psalm 127:2, "He gives HIS beloved sleep" But there are those nights when sleep just will not come, and I have prayed and done what I could to try get some sleep,can to get the sleep, and lay there staringinto the night blackness, and the only thing I have found that works, is to mentally lay myself into the arms of my God,and find myself slowly drift off into the comfort of a God arms wrapped around me, and He gves the rest that is needed. We serve a good and big God Thank you Lord. So I am one who loves Sun Rises and Sun Sets, because it sets the toon for my day and for my night, telling me that my God is in control and I can rest in that fact both day and night. AMEN