It is amazing–changes in one’s life do not change one’s habits–at least not very rapidly, perhaps never. I have arisen early on Sunday for most of my life. As a youth, I was able to sleep in a little on Saturday (but not very long–there were always jobs to be done), but Sunday never! Mother insisted that we get up and get ready for church.
During most of my college, Sundays not only meant a sermon preparation (or two) to review one more time, there was often a fairly long drive attached to the preaching appointments.
In local ministry, I soon came to relish the moments before the house erupted in hustle and bustle. I learned the rhythm of the early part of the Lord’s Day–reflections, thinking, meditating, reading Scripture. Sunday’s mornings have come to be something very special. Special because they are seldom hurried. Special because the early moments are reserved for God more than on other days. Special because a heart prepared on the mountainplace has a lot more to contribute to the fellowship and assembly of God’s people. Special because of the sense of separateness–just me and God, the noise of the world awakening is delayed on this day.
I feel blessed that early Sunday morning God-time is a habit in my life after 60+ years. The way I spend that time has changed. At home when I was growing up, it was Mom preparing a special Sunday morning breakfast, sit quietly (so you don’t mess up your good clothes), listen to Christian music. Later the meals were less special but the study and meditation time increased. These days, it is a great cup of coffee and time for meditation, prayer, reading, and anticipation of a day that will be made more special by shared worship and fellowship–regardless of where happen to be geographically among God’s wonderful people.