Have you ever deliberately begun your day before the crack of dawn? It can be a very refreshing experience, one that is ever so peaceful and quiet. The newness of the morning, the freshness of a new day, hold endless possibilities if we truly stop and reflect upon the potential of what each day affords.
True, there are many demands and responsibilities that dictate our daily schedules, yet within the infancy of the morning is the opportunity to chart our course for today. It’s also a good time to reflect on Proverbs 16:9 which tell us that man makes his plans, but the Lord directs his steps, guiding us in the choices we make that define our day. The secret to success rests in listening to that “still small voice…” of the Lord. (1 Kings 19:12-15)
Granted, we do live in a very “busy” age, which has made it even more challenging for us to rest and retreat. Contrasting our day to the day of Johann Sebastian Bach, for example,🙂can be an enlightening and revealing exercise. In a YouTube video (w/ English subtitles), pianist András Schiff “explains Bach”. Schiff shares that essential to Bach’s success, was his need for “peace and quiet”. It was within the peace and quiet that Bach’s creativity flourished. He managed to achieve a level of peace and quiet, in his day, even amidst his family responsibilities, which included his many children. Schiff goes on to say that if Bach were living in our day and age, it would have been impossible for him to create and produce the magnificent music that he did!
Sobering insights, to say the least, causing me to pause, wonder, and reflect upon “how far” we’ve come, today. Yet, that same need for peace and quiet still exists for us, centuries later, reminding me of that “still small voice” referenced in 1 Kings, as well as Psalm 46:10 which admonishes us to “Be still…”
Beginning the day in the Lord’s presence, and guided by His leading, is challenging at best, yet satisfying at most.
God's Word To Us 