Encouragement for Today - July 9, 2012

July 9, 2012 Breakfast Buddies Tracie Miles

"Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you." Psalm 143:8 (NLT)

His morning murmurs of "I hate school," "School is boring," and "I don't feel like getting dressed" were starting to get old.

One morning as I trudged into my seven-year-old's bedroom prepared for our normal routine, I had an idea. I told Michael if he got dressed quickly, we could eat breakfast together and be breakfast buddies, as opposed to grabbing Pop-Tarts on the way out the door.

To my surprise, his face lit up with excitement! He jumped out of bed with newfound motivation to prepare for the day, and we enjoyed a leisurely bowl of cereal together. From that day forward Michael arose each day without a fuss.

In fact, many mornings I'd open my eyes to find him standing at the edge of my bed looking into my face and whispering, "Get up breakfast buddy, I'm hungry."

Even though it took extra effort to get up earlier, this new plan made our mornings much less stressful. We both looked forward to peaceful moments of talking and eating breakfast together. I sensed it also made Michael feel valued and prepared him to face his day at school.

Psalm 143 is a prayer of David, during a time when he is obviously under a great deal of stress, possibly written while Saul is persecuting him.

In this Psalm, David asks God to speak to his heart first thing in the morning and give him reassurance. He pours out his heart to God, expressing his fears and even his weaknesses. He admits his feelings of hopelessness and his fear of crumbling under the weight of his stress. "I am losing all hope; I am paralyzed with fear." (vs. 4 NLT)

David prays for God to lavish His favor upon him. He lifts his hands in prayer, asks for mercy, and pleads for guidance and deliverance from his troubles. David calls for wisdom and seeks rescue from his distress—and he does all of this each morning while spending time with the Lord.

In some ways, God was David's breakfast buddy. Their time together prepared him to handle the stress each day held.

The importance of breakfast with my son, and how essential David's time with God each morning was, reminds me how much I need time with Him in the early part of my busy days.

I admit there have been mornings Jesus just might have stood at the edge of my bed and summoned me to be His breakfast buddy. But instead I simply rolled over and tried to go back to sleep.

Yet on mornings when I do get up early and start my day with Jesus, He always speaks to my heart and is faithful to prepare me for stressful situations that usually come.

Five years later, I still eat breakfast with my little man every day. And I try to make Jesus my breakfast buddy too. Even if only two bowls of cereal are on the table I always know that three chairs are filled.

Dear Lord, help me remember what a difference it makes when I make time with You a priority in my morning. Awaken me in body and spirit each day with a desire to meet with You and to hear You speak words of affirmation, assurance and wisdom over my heart as I prepare to go into my day. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:
Do You Know Him?

Visit Tracie's blog for more encouragement on how having breakfast with Jesus can help you manage your stress.

Tracie's new book, Stressed-Less Living: Finding God's Peace In Your Chaotic World, will be releasing soon! Visit her blog to find out when it will be available and how to sign up for her upcoming 10 Day Stress Detox.

Crazy Love by Francis Chan

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Reflect and Respond:
Do you believe your day will be different if God is your breakfast buddy?

Have you felt God calling you to spend time with Him in the morning but chose to stay in bed, or busy yourself with morning duties, instead? Set your alarm for 15 minutes earlier tomorrow, and fix breakfast and lunch tonight to save time in the morning.

Power Verse:
Psalm 88:13, "But I cry to you for help, LORD; in the morning my prayer comes before you." (NIV)

© 2012 by Tracie Miles. All rights reserved.

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