Rise Early, Pray First!

 “Early to bed and early to rise” - a phrase we all know too well. But let’s be honest: in today’s fast-paced world, early to bed is not always practical. Late-night work schedules, family commitments, and digital distractions often keep us up.

However, this month, I want to focus on something we can control - praying first.

For the past three months, God has consistently been stirring my heart with one clear message: Prayer.

And this month, He reminded me again through this powerful verse:

Mark 1:35 (KJV)
“And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.”

Let us unpack the wisdom in this short but powerful scripture.

Jesus Rose Early - So Should We

Yes, Jesus is the Creator - He neither slumbers nor sleeps. But when He came in flesh, fully human, He modelled habits to teach and motivate us. And this verse clearly shows one of them: waking up early to pray.

He rose a great while before day à He went out à He found a solitary place à He prayed.

Why am I saying this? Remember Psalm 91:1 - we will talk about it later in the post.

Now let’s reflect - what do we usually do when we wake up at 4:00 a.m.?

• Stumble to the washroom
• Check our phone
• Scroll mindlessly
• Go back to bed
• Or maybe hit the gym or plan the day

But Jesus chose time with the Father.

Your work schedule could be different, and it may not be possible for you to get up early if you sleep late at night. In that case, whenever you wake up make that your early morning. Let your first hour be with God. Seek Him first, as the Bible says. It is not about the clock - it’s about your heart’s priority.

Resurrection Morning – Seek Him Early

There’s another powerful moment that happened early in the morning:

 Luke 24:1–3 (KJV)

“Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre... And they found the stone rolled away... and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.”

Jesus rose from the dead early in the morning, and the women who came seeking Him at dawn were the first to witness the miracle - but they did not find His body, because He had already risen.

We just celebrated the Resurrection of the Lord - but is it only a festival, a ritual, or a calendar event for us? Or do we truly carry His Spirit within us? Do we wake up early to seek Him, or do we only talk about it as a good tradition - something our fathers did in the past?

Let’s not just remember the resurrection. Let’s live it - every single day - by rising early to seek Him while He may be found. Because those who seek Him early find Him.

There’s something deeply spiritual about the early morning hours. They carry divine encounters, fresh mercy, and resurrection power.

So, if you're wondering when to seek God - seek Him early, and you will experience His risen power in your life too.

Intimacy Before Activity

Psalm 91:1 (KJV)
“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”

Jesus didn’t need to pray for strength - but He did. Why? To show us how vital it is to start our day with the Father. Before facing the noise of the world, He chose silence with God. And that made all the difference.

We too can experience divine protection and strength when we begin our day with Him.

In these end days, we must make it a priority to pray, so we can withstand the darts that the devil throws at us. Prayer isn’t a ritual - it’s our shield. Our secret place is where the battle is won before the world even sees us.

The First Battle of the Day

Here’s a truth many believers overlook:
The first battle for a child of God doesn’t begin at work or school - it begins in bed.

The battle to get up
The battle to pray
The battle to put the phone aside

If you can win this battle, you are already victorious over much more. The enemy will try to distract you, flood your mind with to-do lists, and convince you to “pray later.” But later rarely comes.

So, before you sip that detox water, plan your breakfast, or reply to that message - pray.

The Best Gift to Jesus

What is the best gift you can give to Jesus today?
Your first hour.
Abraham did.
Noah did.
Job did.
Jesus did.
Now - it’s your turn.

 Make PRAYER a lifestyle, not a one-time effort. Early rising is not just a productivity hack - it is a spiritual discipline. Let your highest priority in the morning be prayer.

In these end times, the one who kneels first thing in the morning will rise in power throughout the day. Because those who pray - nothing and no one can stand against them.

Blessed May 2025