Running on Divine Time [Knowing God Pt. 4]

We are almost done with our devotional series on knowing God! Wow! Can you believe that there’s just one last part to cover and we’re DONE?! It honestly felt like only yesterday we did part 1 of this series!

Anyway, for part 4 of this devotional series, we’re gonna look into WHEN we should know God. As Seventh-Day Adventist Christian teens, we often hear a lot of pastors, youth group leaders, Sabbath School teachers, and even our own parents say something like:

“The best time to get to know God is in the morning.”

–Most Adults At Church

But, to be realistic,  I understand that A LOT of Adventist teens just aren’t morning people. You yourself, dear reader, may be able to SERIOUSLY relate to such a statement. And I myself also struggle with waking up early on some occasions.

But, I’d like to direct our attention to three particular verses in the Bible that illustrate the importance of getting to know God in the morning. All three of these verses are in Psalms:

My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord;
In the morning I will direct it to You,
And I will look up. (Psalm 5:3)

But to You I have cried out, O Lord,
And in the morning my prayer comes before You. (Psalm 88:13)

I rise before the dawning of the morning,
And cry for help;
I hope in Your word. (Psalm 119:147)

In each of these three verses, we see the consistent emphasis of praying to God and communicating with Him in the morning. In Psalm 5:3, David is communicating with God; in Psalm 88:13, the composer of this Psalm (Heman the Ezrahite) pours out his heart to God in the midst of affliction; and lastly, in Psalm 119:147, David cries out to God for help and gains hope from His Word.

How does all this apply to us as Seventh-Day Adventist Christian teens? It is in the morning we should take time to commune with God, to spend time finding hope from His Word that would encourage us and uplift us throughout the day, and cry out to Him to help us and strengthen us for whatever we may face for the day. In fact, Jesus Himself also took time to talk to His Heavenly Father in the morning. Listen to what Ellen White says in The Desire of Ages:

“The early morning often found [Jesus] in some secluded place, meditating, searching the Scriptures, or in prayer. From these quiet hours He would return to His home to take up His duties again, and to give an example of patient toil.”

–{The Desire of Ages pg. 89

As Christians, Jesus is our ULTIMATE EXAMPLE. Since Christ Himself took time getting to know God in the morning, so should we as Seventh-Day Adventist Christian teens do the same.

But again, what if you’re not a morning person? What if the idea of waking up early isn’t natural for you? What do you do?

Well, the one big practical thing to do is pray. Just simply pray to God and ask Him to help you wake up early in the morning. Below is a prayer you may use to help you get started:

I’d like to conclude this post with a verse you may claim with the above prayer. This verse is what I personally claim whenever I feel too lazy to wake up early in the morning:

Lord, be kind to us.
We have waited for Your help.
Give us strength every morning.
–Isaiah 33:2  (NCV)

Amen! Marantha!

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Stay tuned for part 5 of this devotional series, where we’ll look into HOW to know God! [UPDATE: you can now view part 5 HERE]