I know first hand of its importance, and beauty, and I also know of the subtle, slow, devastating impact of its neglect. Beginning my day with Jesus is called “the morning watch” according to Andrew Murray in his book, The Inner Chamber. I’ve always said that the greatest danger to my spiritual growth is self-reliance. Oh how I must guard against it! I believe the way to guard myself is through the morning watch.
The morning watch begins with discipline, but it is so much more. It’s potential and purpose is to be more to me than finding refreshment and help through a profitable time of Bible study and prayer. The intention of this glorious, carved out, set aside time is to be a means. The end goal is to be with Jesus all day, to abide in Him, and walk in the Spirit. I cannot even come close to these things if I don’t first meet with Him!
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
The Lord God has given Me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to hear as the learned. Isaiah 50:4
In Your name they rejoice all day long, and in Your righteousness they are exalted. Psalm 89:16
I, the Lord, keep it, I water it every moment; lest any hurt it, I keep it night and day. Isaiah 23:7
The way for me to avoid entering the morning watch simply to “put in the time,” is to come with my whole heart. It is all about the attitude of my coming. Will I come expectant, joyful, and anxious to meet with the One who is waiting for me? Is my prayer, and reading of God’s word secondary to laying hold of the presence of Jesus? My whole heart MUST come.
With my whole heart I have sought You… Psalm 119:10
And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely. Revelation 22:17
When I thirst for Him, coming to the morning watch, He’s mine for the taking, every single last ounce of His life giving Spirit is for me. And I am here for Him. Every minute, every day.
Click here to visit other HIDDEN IN MY HEART posts.
I encourage you to search up this beautiful hymn if you don’t already know it:
I Come to The Garden Alone
I come to the garden alone while the dew is still on the roses,
And the voice I hear falling on my ear,
The Son of God discloses
And He walks with me and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am his own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known
He speaks, and the sound of his voice is so sweet
The birds hush their singing,
And the melody that He give to me
Within my heart is to ringing.
And He walks with me and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am his own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known
I stay in the garden with Him,
Though the night around me is falling.
But He bids me go; through the voice of woe
His voice to me is calling.
And He walk with me and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.
-C Austin Miles
1913 Hymn
