Are you a morning person? Or are you a night owl? Have you ever intentionally awakened early in the morning for the specific purpose of drawing closer to God? You might be surprised how often something like that is mentioned in the Bible. This is not the complete list, but consider the example set by these faithful Bible characters.
Abraham “rose early in the morning…split the wood for the burnt offering…and went to …worship” (Gen. 22:3-5).
Moses would “rise early in the morning” to do the Lord’s bidding (Ex. 8:20; 9:13).
Moses “rose early in the morning” to worship and to “read [the Book of the Covenant] in the hearing of the people” (Ex. 24:4).
Moses “rose early in the morning” to meet the Lord (Ex. 34:4).
Joshua “rose early in the morning” to heed God’s specified instructions (Josh. 6:12, 15).
Joshua “rose early in the morning” when there was sin that needed to be eradicated (Josh. 7:16).
Gideon “rose early in the morning” to find the Lord’s favor on Him (Judg. 6:38; 7:1).
Samuel’s parents, Elkanah and Hannah, “rose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord” (1 Sam. 1:19).
Samuel “rose early in the morning” to handle a hard task for the Lord (1 Sam. 15:12).
David “rose early in the morning” in order to obey his father’s command to him (1 Sam. 17:20).
Hezekiah “rose early” to worship, sacrifice to God and restore the people to God (2 Chron. 29:20).
Job made it his habit to “rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings” on behalf of his children (Job 1:5).
Jesus rose “a long while before daylight…and prayed” (Mark 1:35).
Jesus went “early in the morning” to teach people about God (John 8:2).
Faithful women sought Jesus “very early in the morning” (Luke 24:1).
The apostles arose “early in the morning and taught” (Acts 5:21).
You may not be a morning person. (Lots of good and normal folks are not!) But, could you become one for God? What could you and God do together for 30 minutes each morning “before the rest of the world wakes up”?