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Starr Ayers

Armchair Advice for a Significant Life: Early to Rise

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English proverbs are short, concise sayings that express traditional truths. Many of them, religious and metaphorical in nature, offer sound, uplifting advice and consist of repetitive consonant sounds that make remembering them effortless. This week, we’ll focus on five traditional armchair convictions that connect with scriptural truths and encourage virtuous living.

 

Early to Rise

“I rise early, before the sun is up; I cry out for help and put my hope in your words.”

Psalm 119:147, NLT

 “Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.”  

This eighteenth-century English proverb is a variation of an older saying, in print as early as 1496: “Whoever will rise early shall be holy, healthy, and happy.” I love this earlier version. Trading a few extra winks in the morning for a lifestyle that is beneficial to my spiritual, physical, and mental wellbeing seems like a no-brainer to me – so why do I continue to ignore the virtues of rising early?

I’m a dyed-in-the-wool night owl. It’s a generational thing. My mother passed it down to me, and I’ve passed it down to my oldest daughter. It appears that each generation has the malady a notch worse than the preceding one. I want to be a morning person. There have been times in my life when I’ve been successful at rising early, but I’ve never maintained the routine. If I’d choose to go to bed an hour or so earlier, I could probably make this morning thing work.

WormI’m sorry I didn’t inherit my father’s habit of rising early. He always said, “The early bird gets the worm.” (I’ve never had an affinity for worms. My problem exclusively, I’m sure.) Several studies have correlated waking up early with success and have shown that morning people are more optimistic and productive individuals. Night owls, on the other hand, though shown to be creative and intelligent (ahem), prove more likely to exhibit traits such as depression, pessimism, and neurosis. Good grief!

Today’s Scripture verse is just one of many in God’s Word that encourages rising early. Even Jesus rose early.

“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed”

(Mark 1:35, NIV).

I desire to pattern my life after Jesus’s and to begin my day in the presence of my heavenly Father without distractions. At least I don’t need to get dressed and leave my house to find a solitary place to pray. My cushy couch, fuzzy house slippers, and morning brew are not a horrible lot first thing in the day. I should be able to do this. I can do this. God’s Word promises that with the Father, all things are possible for me. Breaking an old habit and adopting a new one is doable. Old habits may die hard, but they do die.

Today, I chose to rise early. I’m on my way to a healthier and more productive lifestyle. I’ll take holy, healthy, and happy, but hold the worm, please!

How about you?

Blessings,

Starr

Wise Choices: Unshakable

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“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?” 

Luke 6:46, ESV  

In the 70’s and 80’s there were two popular comedic expressions: “The devil made me do it,” and “Could it be Satan?” It’s our nature to want to shift blame, but it’s no laughing matter. When God questioned Adam and Eve regarding their sin, Adam blamed Eve, and Eve blamed the serpent. Satan’s influence in our lives is immense, but we alone are responsible for the choices we make.

 

Unshakable

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.”

Matthew 7:24-26, NIV

Day_5,_Rock_with_scriptureRecently, headline news broadcast devastating accounts of a Florida sinkhole that swallowed the bedroom of a man who lay sleeping in his bed. Later, a couple of miles away, another sinkhole opened up. This time it caused no injury or damage, but certainly it struck fear in the hearts of town residents who began to question the solidity of the ground beneath their feet.

As a North Carolina resident, I never question the stability of the ground upon which I walk. I take each step for granted, while those in California, who find earth tremors commonplace, are perhaps lulled into a false sense of security.

Life–shaking events sweep in unannounced. As the rains pound and the winds of adversity blow, our foundations are put to the test. I may not experience the movement of the earth beneath my feet, but I do know what it is like for the bottom to drop out of my world. I suspect you do too.

I have known loneliness after the death of a loved one, sorrow in the loss of a child through miscarriage, the emotional ups and downs that come with the birth of a special-needs child, heartache over one in rebellion, helplessness in the failure of a business, fear in the face of illness . . . and the storms rage on. However, in the midst of these life-altering events, I have experienced the indescribable peace and hope of God.

God’s Word reminds us that unless the Lord builds the house, its builder labors in vain. As painful and unforeseen events close in, choose to set the foundation of your life upon the solid Rock of Christ and God’s Word. Know it and obey it. Allow its healing balm to seep deep into the crevices of your heart and mind. Experience His stillness.

Setting the plumb line of our soul in alignment with the wisdom of God is the key to ensuring our foundation holds strong and secure in the face of crises. There is only one unshakeable foundation upon which to stand―Jesus Christ.

Rockin’ it till next time,

Starr

Wise Choices: A River Runs Through It

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“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?” 

Luke 6:46, ESV  

In the 70’s and 80’s there were two popular comedic expressions: “The devil made me do it,” and “Could it be Satan?” It’s our nature to want to shift blame, but it’s no laughing matter. When God questioned Adam and Eve regarding their sin, Adam blamed Eve, and Eve blamed the serpent. Satan’s influence in our lives is immense, but we alone are responsible for the choices we make.

 

A River Runs Through It

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.”

Isaiah 43:2, NIV

KER-SPLASH!

Day_4,_Ashley_in_streamThe look of surprise on our young daughter’s face was priceless as the cold mountain stream cut its way around her tiny body. Only moments earlier, with arms outstretched to keep her balance, she had playfully leaped from rock to rock. It looked easy enough, great fun with evenly laid out stones defining the way. Reaching the other side almost became a reality, and then, her unexpected plunge.

Life mimics this at times, plunging us into icy, cold waters as we make our way along what we think is a clearly defined path. It looks as if we are making notable progress, and then the unexpected happens. We are taken off guard and submerged in the current of life’s troubles, winding rivers of difficulty that eventually confront us all. There are days when we are pulled under, entrapped, dragged down by life’s undertow, days when the current is too swift and the river far too wide to pass through. How do we navigate our way to safety?  Where do we find the courage to press on?

The day our daughter plummeted from her path and was flooded by the icy, cold water, she didn’t hesitate to cry for help and help did not hesitate to come. The same will be true for you. Cry out. God will come running.

My daughter emerged wringing wet that day, but her spirit was not dampened. Her goal was still in sight; she would not be deterred. After drying off, changing into her sister’s oversized pants, and enjoying a picnic, she returned to her game. With pant legs rolled up and determination set, she plotted her way across the swiftly moving stream with slow, deliberate steps. As she planted each foot securely on the rock in front of her, her confidence grew and her fear of failure subsided. Finally, she stepped onto the opposite side, her face beaming with pride. She knew the joy of rising above what once had defeated her. Victory was hers!

What is blocking your pathway to victory? Does a river run through it? Choose to cry out. God will show up and plant your feet securely on the rock.

Are your feet wet yet?

Starr