“A Day Without Sunshine”
“A day without orange juice is like a day without sunshine.” That was the slogan of a very popular orange juice commercial that ran in the U.S. back in the 1970’s. The targeted product had a couple of commonalities with sunshine: it brightened one’s morning and gave a burst of energy for the day. Just hearing the slogan carried a positive impact.
Today’s world is in dire need of positive impact. How about, “A day without prayer is like a day without sunshine.” How fitting is that? At the beginning of His ministry, we see Christ’s example. “Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed” (Mark 1:35). Christ rose early, found a private place and prayed to our Father. He was both speaking and receiving, which is the purpose of prayer. The closeness to His Father mixed with the power of the Holy Spirit would have been like a revitalizing fresh drink.
Christ’s disciples had gone in search of Him when they arose. “But He said to them, ‘Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth.’ And He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee and casting out demons” (Mark 1:38–39). Christ had been spiritually energized and He was ready to fulfill His purpose for the day. His day was brightly lit and his course was set.
First thing in the still and quiet of the early morning, before all the distractions that can disrupt our proper focus, is the time to seek God’s focus for us. King David prayed: “Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, for in You do I trust; cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You” (Psalm 143:8). Here is the king of God’s people going before God as a little child seeking God’s guidance and strength before His royal duties ensue. What a perfect start on more than one level.
We all need to quench our thirst in the early morning. There are times when we feel just like David did in this Psalm: “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). We, like David, need to make it our aim to quench our spiritual thirst before anything else. Beginning our day with prayer is a day of trust in God, direction in complexities and strength from on high.
Make yours a day of sunshine.
Marshall Stiver
