A lot of people think about coffee as being the best part of their morning. I remember growing up how cool it was to pitter patter may way to the kitchen and find my daddy there reading his Bible with a cuppa coffee at his side.  He would look up at me, smile and say, “Good morning, Babygirl” and all would be right with my world as I waited for him to finish his study. Sometimes, I would even join him with my little picture Bible (I was a precocious little girl) and we would study together. 

This was something that was fairly consistent in my family. My father was and still is an early riser. Both of my grandfathers were early risers and my paternal grandmother is still an early riser. Waking up early in anynof those houses meant I got to spend special, quiet time with some of my favorite people in the world.

What I didn’t know then that I recognize now is that my father was modeling for me how to set my mind right for the day and tasks ahead of me. Waking up with the Word on my mind. Being fully awake before I left the safety of my house. Choosing not to rush through my day scattered and off balance.

Today, I still find it useful to wake up early and spend quiet time with my maker, thanking Him for the blessing of life and reading on His promises in The Bible before I leave the safety of my house to engage the world. Nearly a year ago I made a commitment to myself that the first thing I would do in the morning is spend time reading and meditating over the Word, before I click on social media, before TV or radio or anything else. It makes such a difference in my attitude and approach to the day. I share many of those scriptures on Instagram daily (@martagwyn) through infographics that you are welcome to follow if you like. I’ve discovered that sometimes a pretty picture can help encourage people to engage the Word of God much like they did for me in my first picture Bible.

~Marta C. Youngblood