As I peer out the windows in my office, the darkness has left and we are just moments from sunrise here in Northwest Arkansas. I love this time of day to look at, drive in, or to walk around the neighborhood. I like it because the sun has not come up and the sky is not even close to bright, but you know it is moments away.

There is nothing like the early morning. This morning I rolled out of bed at 3:30 a.m. I threw water on my face and walked upstairs to my home office where I will abide until almost noon. This is my practice on normal days Monday-Thursday. On Sundays I get up that early as well, but obviously have to move forward to the events of the day.

Upon reaching my home office, I begin to pray. I spend the next hour or so of my life in prayer, reading God’s Word devotionally for my nurture and growth, and conclude with a time of writing in my spiritual journal. From that moment, I enter into study and preparation for the day in all kinds of ways.

You know, the early morning is what has been my secret all these years spiritually as well as in leading the churches I have served. I do not know how I would do what I do if I had not fallen in love with uninterrupted time in study and preparation. I really think this ship would have sunk.

Try the early morning in your life. Don’t say to me,”Pastor Floyd, I love sleep!” Well, so do I. I still set two alarm clocks daily. I look forward to Fridays and Saturdays when I sleep in until 7:30 or so. Try it for 30 days – getting up one hour earlier than normal, spending some of it with God, but also creating margin for you to enjoy. This is far more profitable than a life filled with a rushed morning schedule.

By the way … Jesus loved the early morning.