As I look into the New Year, 2010, I'm being convicted of a Scriptural principle that will strengthen my walk with the Lord.I believe it's a principle that will strengthen all of us if we can implement it into our lives. It is the principle of "rising early".

 Most of you are probably thinking, "Oh, right. Like I can really do that". Believe me, this is something I struggle with. Let me share with you some of the Scriptures and quotations that have encouraged me to begin doing this in 2010.

Psalm 63:1 "O God, Thou art my God; early will I seek Thee, my flesh longeth for Thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is".    In one of his devotionals, John Wesley said, "And why should you not rise early? Because it is difficult? True;with men it is impossible. But all things are possible with God; and by His grace, all things will be possible to you. Only be instant in prayer and it will be not only possible, but easy. And, it is far easier to rise early ALWAYS than only sometimes. Just begin at the right end; To rise early, you must sleep early. Then, the difficulty will cease. Its advantage will remain forever".

Psalm 119:62   "At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto Thee because of Thy righteous judgments"

Proverbs 8:17  "I love them that love Me; and those that seek Me early shall find Me"   George Muller is quoted as saying, "Referring to the sacrifices in Leviticus, the refuse of the animals was never offered up on the altar, but only the best parts and the fat, so the choicest of our time and strength, the best parts of our day, should be especially given to the Lord in worship and communion. This early rising secured long seasons of uninterrupted interviews with God, in prayer and meditations on the Scriptures, before breakfast and the various inevitable interruptions that followed".

 For me, being a young woman, I feel as though I'm "preaching to the choir". Yet, I know that this is an area of sacrifice for all of us to establish and see the blessings that follow.

To the other young women, now is the time for us to be strengthening our relationship with the Lord. One way to do this is by making it our habit to rise early and give Him the best part of our day.

May this devotional be an encouragement to you in this New Year, 2010.