Early Riser

Proverbs 31:15 "She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls."

Are you an early riser or a night owl??

I'm definitely a night owl, I enjoy staying up late. I am NOT a morning person AT ALL. I prefer to sleep in until 7:30 approximately and get started with my day around that time. 

The Proverbs 31 Woman  rises VERY early. Before dawn. 

Now, I look at that and think, Yea, right...that ain't gonna happen! 

2 things that scripture mentions the Proverbs 31 woman doing in the morning is:

1. Providing food for her family &
2. Providing portions for her servant girls.

Getting up in the morning gives you the time to decide the rest of the day's meals and maybe set aside some ingredients for it or get some meat out of the freezer to start to thaw out. It means starting breakfast for your family, also. (That sounds easy enough) Now, I know we don't have servants anymore, but items such as dishwasher, washer/dryer, vaccuum, etc. are considered our modern day "servants" and lighten the load for us tremendously! So in other words, getting up early is doing some cleaning around the house, throwing a load of laundry in, starting up the dishwasher, or ironing the clothes for your spouse. 

It's funny that the subject of rising early was this post's theme because I've recently been thinking about changing up my morning routine. I would like to start working out more and I would like to be reading my bible or doing a daily devotion each day. I think if I get up just half an hour earlier that gives me a chance to work-out and fit in a devotional/bible reading. I think that time with God is SO important. It quite possibly could be the only time during the day that we have that is quiet and ALONE with God. No children, no co-workers/clients, no family/spouse, and no interruptions from the cell phone (that is if you leave it off during this time). 

So what I really need to focus on for myself and what I encourage all of you to focus on is: Self-discipline & time management. I often find at the end of every day that there just wasn't enough time to get everything on my to-do list done! That can be so frustrating. By getting up early, you can make a list of what you all hope to accomplish throughout your day and deciphering a time to get that done. It means disciplining yourself to stand by that list and holding yourself accountable. 

What I want to do is start out my day with prayer then devotional, then write a list in my planner for the week of any big things that need to get done and decipher which days I'll get each item done. There is nothing more rewarding than starting your day out in prayer and being alone "with God" in quiet peace. I know for some of you mothers out there, that getting quiet time is very difficult, but if we give that added time to God each day, it can not only deepen our relationship with him but it can deepen our understanding, it can bless us in more ways than one! I truly believe that starting your day out with "time with God" is going to help you be more positive throughout your day and is going to keep you more grounded in your ways. I just think it keeps our minds focused on what's important, on what really matters, and on God and his ways.

I hope this is helpful for you ladies & if you have any tips for myself and others reading this, please feel free to comment below & share your thoughts!!

Love Always,

Stefanie :)