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Welcome to Day 2 of our series, From Chaos to Calm: 15 Weeks to a Happy Home. Today we’re talking about the importance of your morning devotion time with God. 

Joy in the Morning @ AVirtuousWoman.org

Good morning, Ladies! Did you sleep well? I hope so!

I have company staying with us right now. A friend of mine {and her daughter} from Arkansas is staying with us for a few days and we’ve been guilty of staying up a little too late talking! However, I’m determined to start my days off right with prayer time and devotion. I’m currently reading the book of John. What are you reading for devotions?

So, I am very excited about today’s topic. This is where it all starts, ladies.

From Chaos to Calm: 15 Weeks to a Happy Home @ AVirtuousWoman.org

From Chaos to Calm eBook

If you’ve been struggling with your home, your marriage, your children, or just life in general this might be the answer you have been waiting for! Inside the pages of this ebook you will spend 15 weeks working toward a goal for:

– peace in the heart
– peace in the home
– peace with our husbands
– peace with our children

From Chaos to Calm: Day Two

Manna in the Morning

Scripture Memory: “My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.” Psalm 5:3

    Morning is the best time for getting to know God. This principle was deeply impressed upon the children of Israel by His daily gift of manna. The angel food cake rained down from heaven early in the morning, six days a week, for 40 years. If one waited too long to gather it, the manna would evaporate in the heat of the sun. “And they gathered it every morning, every man according to his eating: and when the sun waxed hot, it melted.” Exodus 16:21.

Likewise, if we wait too long for our spiritual devotions, the cares and pressures of the day will get our attention before the Lord does. The busier we are and the more we have to do, the more we need to take time to pray. Let’s not allow the manna to melt.

Jesus, our example, practiced morning devotions. “And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, He went out, and departed into a solitary place, and then prayed.” Mark 1:35.

As famous evangelist Charles Spurgeon well said: “The morning is the gate of the day, and it should be well guarded with prayer. It is one end of the thread on which the day’s actions are strung, and should be well knotted with devotion. If we felt the majesty of life we should be more careful of its mornings.

“He who rushes from his bed to his business and waiteth not to worship is as foolish as though he had not put on his clothes, or cleansed his face, and as unwise as though he had dashed into battle without arms or armor. Be it ours to bathe in the softly flowing river of communion with God, before the heat of the wilderness and the burden of the way begins to oppress.” — The Truth About Mary Magdalene, Doug Batchelor, p. 53

 Don’t forget to set your alarms!

Action Steps to Take Today

  1. Pray and ask God to help you make beginning your day with Jesus a priority. Ask Him to help you find the time that will work best for you – wether alone in the quiet of the house or sitting with your little ones.
  2. Write out your thoughts about worship and a prayer about your devotion time in your prayer journal.

Listen to the Podcast:

Press the play button or click here to listen.

From Chaos to Calm: 15 Weeks to a Happy Home is a daily devotion – Monday through Friday for 15 Weeks by Melissa Ringstaff. The Audio Podcast gives you extra ideas to go along with the email series or e-book.

Do you struggle to get up early in the morning? What helps you crawl out of bed before the rest of your family?

Free Printable Prayer Journal

Be Still and Know Prayer Journal @ AVirtuousWoman.org
Be Still and Know Prayer Journal

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My name is Melissa Ringstaff and I've been blogging here at A Virtuous Woman since 2001. I'm a pastor's wife and homeschooling mom living in the beautiful Appalachian Mountains of Southeastern KY. I believe in finding freedom from perfection and living life with purpose and I want to help you do exactly that.

I'm so glad you've stopped by to visit with me. I hope we can be friends!

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40 Comments

  1. Yay! Thank you so much! I read this entry this morning and also listened to the podcast and found myself nodding in agreement at a lot of the things that you said. I myself am not a morning person. I also have to work hard to make myself go to bed at a decent hour so I can wake up and get myself ready and have some time with the Lord before my son gets up. It truly does set the tone to the rest of our day! Aiming for 8 hours of sleep is my goal, but if I get anything under seven hours of sleep, I am very sluggish in the morning and it is hard for me to get out of bed. Loving the series so far!
    Reply
    1. Thanks, Holly! Congratulations on winning! I shoot for 8 hours, too. Last night... I only got 5. However, I've felt good today, so that's a blessing! I'm sure it will hit me tonight, just about the time I'm supposed to be teaching kids at church. ;)
      Reply
  2. I try for a good night sleep but have trouble most nights. I pray before I leave my bed-room in the mornings. Hopefully, before anyone hears me up. It does get my day off right. Linda
    Reply
  3. Melissa, I'm a coffee drinker. I have a coffee pot that I can program the brew time. Just knowing I'm gonna have a fresh brewed, hot cup of coffee waiting for me helps me roll out of bed at 5:30 in the morning.
    Reply
  5. I just wanted to let you know I am really enjoying this seris me and my husband were recently baptized and are struggling to make god first we are both very strong willed people and it takes a little reminding that we have god to help with our daily struggles but that's why I love this site it helps bring that to light every morning and this morning is the first time me and my family prayed together in the morning it was very moving and shows that this website is special thank you from the redds
    Reply
  6. It was a great start for me this morning. Woke up at 5.30 prayer devotion and exercise. God drew my attention to the need to rest in his rest and that's what I will be focusing on today. Trying to be restfully busy and not hurriedly busy. I have an interview this morning so restful is good. Thank you
    Reply
  7. Hi Mrs. Ringstaff: Just wanted to tell you that I appreciate the time and effort you have taken to do this series. I'm fairly new to this,Married, 5 kids myself and juggling it all can get crazy. I find that when I do get up to spend with our Father, it just makes it all better. I'm looking forward to this series. God Bless you and your family!
    Reply
  8. I used to be so devoted to getting up in the morning for prayer time. After my daughter got a little older she started getting up earlier and some times even in the middle of the night. I am looking forward to do this series in hopes that I can become devoted again. Any suggestions on what to do if my daughter wakes up during my morning prayer time? She is 3 and she doesn't sit quietly
    Reply
    1. Hi Liss! Well, I totally understand how frustrating it can feel when you're trying so hard! Just remember that this season will pass much quicker than you can even imagine! So, for now, I have a few suggestions for you. 1. Could you have a special basket of "special" quiet toys your daughter could play with during worship time? You could tell her that she only gets to play with them if she's quiet. That might be an incentive. 2. If not, and she wants your undivided attention, it's okay to include her in your worship time. Let her sit on your lap while you read a children's devotion and have prayer time together. Then you might offer to play a game later {or something} if she gives you a few minutes to read your Bible. God knows every mother's struggles. This time with your sweet girl will pass and one day you'll be thankful for those quiet mornings together. God bless you! Let me know if you think these ideas might work? :)
      Reply
      1. Those are good ideas and I will certainly give them a try. Thank you so much Melissa. Also, I can look at this from a different perspective because you are right. This time does go fast and should be cherished.
  9. I came across your website on Pinterest searching for some parenting tips and I think this is more what I need than anything else! I know I am going to need God's help in making devotional time a priority, but I truly want to change some things in my life and I know I cannot do it alone. I recently started going to church again to help bring back Christ's light in my life and I look forward to this series and starting some personal time with God. The mornings are going to be challenging some days of the week as I work late into the wee hours of the morning, but I am praying for dedication and motivation to help get me out of bed. I want to be a happy person and love life, especially while my kids (twins) are this young.
    Reply
    1. Hi Alisha! You sound like a very busy mama. And God knows exactly what you are going through and what you need. I'm so glad to hear you are going to church again! More than anything, your children need to see you living the walk! So that's great! I hope you enjoy the series and don't get discouraged. Be sure to read my posts on structuring the day, and don't forget that you need good quality sleep! Here are a few to get you started: http://avirtuouswoman.org/tag/toddlers/
      Reply
  10. I'm not a mom yet, but a wife and I nanny in my home. I need to do this. I remember when I was an older kid, I read the Bible every morning before I even got out of my bed. Although my life was horrid, it did help me get through it better, the days I read the Bible first. I don't know why I stopped but I am starting again now :)
    Reply
  11. Good morning, I have to say I didn't in completion let my day overcome my devotion and pray but did begin some things before which led me to the thought of"i need to start my devotion and prauer". With that being said when I had completed my prayer and began my devotion, I was got so to speak because that's exactly what our day two lesson was about. However, that is a positive not a negative because I'm thinking and still being guided in the right direction. Thank you ladies, thank you God for the support and guidance.
    Reply
  12. I enjoy the morning. According to my primary care doctor she says that we all have rythems that if we are using our psychical health improves. She agrees with my saying for me to get up early. LOL. Of course when she told me me this I said Praise the LORD. She agreed. She told me also our rythems help us to attain emotional, mental and spiritual health. Which creates joy. So...I started to practice joy in the morning. Like you I fell off the devotional praying and meditation. Then other stuff marched in and I .....well not in rythem with what THE LORD WAS DOING IN AND THROUGH ME. So when you had the get ready I knew I had to go back to my prayer and praise. With" early will I seek thee, early will I praise thee". I have to get up early before everyone else because there are animals to feed, watering , and morning chores to do and making sure that meds are laid out and ready for my husband. He is disabled and needs care. So if I dont get up early before everyone it doesnt get done. This challenge has lit me up. Thank you. Praise the LORD.
    Reply
  13. I am one of the ones that is excited about a do-over tomorrow because this morning didn't quite go as planned. I did start my day with Bible, but it was the start of our homeschool day, not my own personal devotion time. Tomorrow will be better! :) Thanks for this series!
    Reply
    1. Oh, you're so welcome! Don't get discouraged. Having a devotion with your family is a great way to get the day started. And tomorrow if your able to get your own time in with the Lord I'm sure you will be blessed.
      Reply
  14. I am currently working through the "Eat This Book" Bible in a year reading plan on YouVersion. To me, the time feels richer if I'm in my paper Bible with a highlighter and journal but it is nice to also give myself permission to read straight from the app if I'm feeling rushed or tired (or whatever excuse I give myself to not have quiet time in the morning). I don't even have to get out of bed or turn the light on! Funny how that little concession gets me reading and the prayer follows. Today part of the reading was Psalm 13 and I was particularly moved by verse 6, "I will sing to the Lord, Because He has dealt bountifully with me." Something about the word "bountifully" is showing me a new side of the Lord that I haven't recognized very well in the past.
    Reply
    1. Yes! I love that. Our prayer and devotion time doesn't have to fit a certain mold to be meaningful. What's important is that we are experiencing God and His Word. Thanks for sharing your testimony. :)
      Reply
  15. I did Day 1 & 2 today because honestly I forgot about starting yesterday. I am really looking forward to continuing this series and although it will really be a challenge for me IT IS NEEDED!! My morning will start around 5am starting TOMORROW, I have a 5 month old who gets up between 4-5am one last time at night so after I put her back down I will start my day. This will be a big challenge right now because she hasn't been a good sleeper lately and I am up almost every 1.5hrs with her throughout the night and I have used that as an excuse to sleep in as late as I want and then my day doesn't really start until 10am. TOMORROW WILL BE A NEW DAY AT 5am AND I see naps on the horizon too!!
    Reply
    1. Naps are good! :) It's great your recognizing your own struggle and making decisions about what you can change. God will bless your efforts. Be sure to give yourself grace as you form new habits. Change doesn't happen over night, but I know God will help you along the way!
      Reply
  17. I just want to say that wouldn't you know, today was the first day to rise early (0445, I normally awake at 0520), and my 2 y/o also awoke and wouldn't go back to sleep(I always wake him at 0545). I had a suspicion that Satan was not happy about me giving the first part of my day to The LORD. Well I just sat my son next to me, turned on the TV for him, and I got to read the Bible. Granted, it wasn't the quiet solitude I was looking forward to today, but I did the best I could, to spend some time with The LORD. I was still able to watch the podcast, take notes, and write down my memory scripture. I just remembered 30 minutes ago about Periscope, and quickly downloaded it, but I think I missed you anyway. I will try to remember next week.
    Reply
    1. Hi Sandra! You are so right - When Satan realizes you're making changes, he doesn't like it and he will pull out the stops to discourage us. But, God is bigger than Satan. And God will have the victory. Don't get discouraged! I think it's great you went ahead with your plan to read and study your Bible even though things didn't go quite as planned.
      Reply
  18. Melissa, Thank you so much for doing this series. I am starting it late as I was belated catching up on your daily emails. I know the Lord is speaking to me through it and I have been searching for a study such as this. As a newer mom of two kids under two years I have struggled to find calm andpeace. We live in a very rural area and so finding connection with others andstaying accountable can be difficult. I so appreciate this study, thank you!
    Reply
    1. Hi Rachelle, if you do a search of family worship you'll find lots of information and ideas: http://avirtuouswoman.org/?s=family+worship I hope that helps. I'm sure I'll be writing about it again in the future. :)
      Reply
  20. I'm a little late to this party! But I'm excited to start this journey! As a stay at home of mom my life is chaos and I struggle to find the calm. I'm looking forward to this series and how it will change the way I do life! Thank you!
    Reply

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