Arise and Seek the Lord at Dawn

Gist: Seek the Lord early in the morning and gird yourself with His powerful and life-giving Words. God will fight all the battles that come your way and will give you a tremendous victory.

Dear friend, do you seek God early in the morning? Everyday there is a battle for us to fight and each battle is different from others.

Very often when I get up in the morning and think what the day may have in store, a great fear would arise in me. I used to wonder, “How am I going to meet the day’s demands? Will the day end happily?” Does not this fear and anxiety vex us everyday?

To rise early in the morning was a habit of King David. While he was in the wilderness of Judah he sang, “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” (Psalm 63:1). The Lord says in the Holy Bible, “I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently will find me” (Proverbs 8:17).

Mary Magdalene, who sought Jesus early in the morning had the first vision of the risen Christ Jesus. Those who love the Lord seek Him early in the morning. Seeking the Lord early in the morning was David’s practice.

Once a boy was playing alone by the side of a well. He saw a man coming towards him. Recognizing him to be a thief, the boy began to cry profusely out of fear. When the thief came near and asked him why he was weeping, the boy told him that a silver vessel with which he was playing had fallen into the well. The thief was very happy hearing it. He asked the boy not to worry and took off his clothes, left them in the boy’s care and jumped inside the well. He dived very deep and searched for the silver vessel. The water was very cold and he could not find the silver vessel anywhere inside the well. He soon realized that the boy had cheated him. When he came out of the well, he found the boy had run away with his clothes. The boy not only escaped from the thief but also took his clothes with himself. The boy had tricked even the thief!

Dear friend, the thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy (John 10:10). It is very necessary that we should acquire enough energy and strength every morning to face the devil and his warfare even before he brings them before us. Our victory lies not only in fighting and overcoming him, but in making him powerless and pushing him back into hell.

How are we to search and find God? This is the question raised by so many youngsters. We can see God only through His Words. Many of us say that it is difficult to read the Bible everyday. When I came to know Christ, so many problems cropped up and I had to face them all alone. But when I read the Bible it was a new experience for me.

Some raise several questions like whether they can open the Bible at any page and read it or whether the Bible has to be read continuously. All that is not important. We should hear the voice of God in the Bible. The Bible says, “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me” (John 5:39). When we are dispirited, when we have lost all hopes and are prompted to put an end to our lives, we derive patience, comfort and hope through the Scriptures (Romans 15:4).

Very often we are bewildered, not knowing any solution for our problems. We languish over our uncertain future. But God will speak to us through His Word. Early in the morning everyday I read as many chapters of the Bible as possible and pray, “Lord Jesus, speak to me. You know all my problems. I do not know how I am going to meet, what is going to happen to me. Prepare me for all possible situations.” God then speaks to me through His Word. As I read the Bible, I feel His presence by my side. Through some text or some instances He speaks to me saying, “My son! you have failed in this matter. You have spoken harshly to that man. Repent.” In obedience to His word I would tell Him, “Father, I have done all these sins. Forgive me.” A divine peace would then fill me. It maintains the link between me and my God. When you read the Bible in this manner, the Word of God comes into you. The presence of Jesus fills you. You receive a divine strength to overcome any enemy.

Dear friend, Gird yourself everyday with the Word of God. No temptation will then overcome you. All your undertakings will prosper. God will bless all your efforts. He, who honoured young David who sought Him every morning, will stand by your side in any combat. If you seek Him early in the morning, he will fight all the battles for you. You will be victorious in all the strife and struggles and be honoured among all men.

Prayer:

Loving Heavenly Father,

I have sinned against you many times in my thoughts, words and deeds. Please forgive me. Wash me clean by Your precious blood. Lord, help me to seek You early in the morning everyday. Teach me to read and meditate Your life-giving Words everyday and spend time to wait at Your holy feet and pray. I surrender myself at Your holy feet. I make this humble prayer through Christ Jesus, my Saviour.

Amen.

Speaker: Dr. Paul Dhinakaran