Spending Time with God

Spending Time with God

By Marcella S. Meeks

Inspirational Thought for Sunday

Isaiah 40:31 “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

Mark 4:24 “And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.”

     I’ve always been an early riser, getting up at about 5:30 a.m. every morning. I want to be the first one up and make my coffee and enjoy a few moments alone before starting my day. I usually write because I am a writer and that’s what I have done for years.

     But for the past seventeen months, just getting up and getting my grandson up and ready for school is pretty much been it since I’ve had this last bout with cancer. I write only when I feel like writing, and that is only occasionally.

     But for the last few weeks, God has put a calling on my life and it’s hard to ignore. He wants me to get up in the mornings, spend time with Him in prayer, reading His Word and reading my devotional each day, and then write my own devotional when He puts a story idea on my heart.

     There’s not enough time in my mornings for this along with my parental duties and coffee time.  But who am I to question the Lord?

     He wants me to get up and spend time with Him for strength and guidance for each day.

     Since this whole cancer thing started in June 2025, my strength hasn’t been that good. I am weak most of the time and it is hard getting through a morning. Some things just never get done anymore.

     But this calling is there and I can’t ignore God. Where on earth am I going to have time for much more in the mornings, let alone finding the strength to do it? I’ve asked God to help me, and He has in so many ways.

     Another problem is waking up earlier than 5:30. Some mornings, it’s hard getting up. My body is physically exhausted from the day before and I simply want to pull the covers over my head and go to sleep. Waking up any earlier is almost impossible.

     But God makes a way for us when we ask. He knows I want to serve and please Him in every way.  

     You may not believe this, but our dog Rusty usually gets up at 5:30 with me every morning so he can go out to potty. He’s lazy and doesn’t like getting up either but when Mother Nature calls, he lets me know.

     But lately, he comes to my door around 4:15 or 4:30 instead of 5:30 like he normally does. He whines or barks until I get up. Since I am already up, I stay up and do my morning routine, except now I pray and spend time with God, I read the Bible and read my devotional and write like I normally do.

     Sure, I am tired sometimes especially getting up a little earlier, but I have gotten use to it. God gives me the strength I need to do what He wants and for that, I am grateful. Having a dog that God can use to get me up out of bed to do His work is a blessing and I am thankful for that extra prompting to get me up in the mornings. Who needs an alarm when you have a dog that is obeying the Lord in his own way?

     Weekends are no different. Rusty still wakes me up. And I get up and after letting him out for his morning duties, I spend time with God.

     My physical and spiritual strength has started improving so much more than it has in quite awhile.

     You may not have a dog like Rusty, but if God puts a calling on your heart, don’t ignore it. Find a way to do what He asks you to do. Wake uo forty-five minutes or an hour earlier and do what you know you should be doing. God will give you the strength to do it if you ask. As soon as you start spending more time in His Word and being with Him, you’ll see a difference in your spiritual life.

     I love God and want to spend my time with Him as much as I can. I want to spend the rest of my life serving Him. And I pray you do, too.

     Thank you, Lord, for giving me the strength and desire to do what You want me to do. I am grateful to do what I need to do to serve You. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.