The alarm went off at 5:30 and beeped until I lifted my head from my pillow and flicked the switch. It had done its job; I was awake. Now if only it had been my alarm and not my husband’s.
Then Jesus got up early in the morning when it was still very dark, departed, and went out to a deserted place, and there he spent time in prayer. (NET)
I was awake early, and it occurred to me that going to pray someplace away from my dogs, away from the distraction of my computer, might be a better option than spending the next hour trying to fall back asleep.
I didn’t budge. Surely it wouldn’t take an hour to fall asleep, right?
And then I thought of a story someone told of a time when she didn’t do something she felt like she should do. Remorse I know from the inside. I’ve failed to listen to the Spirit, too.
Was it the Holy Spirit calling me from bed? Would I be quenching Him yet again by refusing? If I didn’t listen this time, would His voice be fainter and harder to follow next time?
The sky was beginning to glow navy blue. I grabbed my phone from the nightstand and Googled the time of sunrise. 6:10 meant I had time to get up, get dressed, make coffee, and get myself to the lake.
So, I allowed dawn and a voice I hoped was God’s to beckon me from bed.
I brought coffee, my Bible, my notebook, my phone. I nervously eyed the purple sky as I drove, hoping I wouldn’t miss the moment.
Not only did I make it to watch the sun rise over the lake, but I saw much more beauty than I expected to. The photos in this post are from my journey. God, the one who gave me the love of words, allowed me to spend a good portion of my time in written prayer and poetry. He sang over me as I sat on that bench by the lake, and my soul sang back.
_____________________________free itself from the hampering blanket of Earth.
It flames up, rising like a hot air balloon,
warm, then white.
The squabbling birds sing,
He’s done it again.
This time, we have a witness.
The paper I write on reflects orange sun,
lit all across.
The black cut out of a pelican soars
over the electric mercury water,
beneath the bobbing sun.
The sun bits blaze on the waves,
a highway across the lake,
a street of gold
from You to me.
All of this to say that when you feel the nudge to do something and suspect it’s from the Holy Spirit, do it! The blessings God pours out in response are so much more than what He asks us to give.
Have you had an experience like this? I’d love to hear it!
Yes I have. What a moment you captured. Electric mercury. You just reminded me of a moment. Gotta go write it out. Ty;)
You're so welcome! Hope the writing went well!