My morning routine began a little later than usual on this chilled, sunny, first day of December. I know that my body needed additional sleep. Yesterday, around mid-day, I began to feel the first signs of being “under the weather.” By the time my tennis team finished its final practice of the semester late last night, my body was more tired than usual. I had been awake for a good seventeen hours and at work for twelve of them. Tennis felt good as it always does, but not great. I could tell my lungs were not at optimal capacity; my focus not able to be held for extended periods of time.

I texted a friend around 8:40 a.m. this morning to ask that we delay our morning call in order for me to start my quiet time and get moving. Truthfully, I had the strong urge to simply fall back into an age-old habit of going back to bed and sleeping the day away to avoid all responsibilities. Thankfully, I chose better, because I’ve finally created the habit of choosing better in order to start my day right. 

The art of choosing better over any momentary pleasures requires thoughtful intention from conviction followed by action.

Momentary pleasures of over-valuing excessive sleep that ultimately would lead me to feelings of regret and physical pain from sleeping too long, which would in turn make me want to sleep more and prohibit me from any productivity, had me so angry with myself for years. It was a depressive cycle that needed to break and a real stumbling block in my life for a long time. It required recognition that what I feel on a given day should not get to dictate a lack of stewarding my daily responsibilities. How can I witness the blessings God might have in store for me if I sleep the day away? Proverbs 6:9-11 might stir some conviction if you find yourself overly indulging in sleep like I have been prone to in the past.

The reminder brought me to my blog today, and actually motivated me to not spend the entire day sleeping, because I know better than what I feel. When you knowingly choose what isn’t good for you based on “feeling”, it is sin my friends. And when it’s brought to your attention (whatever it may be) in your spirit, you need to humble yourself before God, ask forgiveness, and take a step in faith to do better that very next moment. You aren’t alone. You can attempt to rationalize it like the rest of the world and glorify your own gluttonous and slothful behavior as is so commonplace in our society today, or you can see it for what it truly is: a lie from the enemy to keep you from God’s best for your life.

God’s best actually requires your choices and actions each day to ask, seek, listen, and live better with Him.

Since May, I have been waking up when my body is naturally roused, and actually starting the day instead of crawling back into bed. For as long as I can remember, I have had a tendency to wake up between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m every day and force myself to go back to sleep. Following the conviction laid upon me earlier this year, now, those morning hours are my most sacred and favorite time of day. A time of day where I choose time with God first, and I choose not to allow the pressures of the day to consume my thoughts right away (Philippians 4:4-9). I don’t even need to set an alarm. It has truly been a life altering and beautiful way to wake up! If you ever “feel” guilty for spending time in Scripture or with God, be reminded of this passage. It is never wasted and is more important than any obligation in this world. Luke 10:38-42 

There is a chapter in Rachel Hollis’ book, Girl Wash Your Face, called “I’ll Start Tomorrow” that really spoke to the conviction that the Holy Spirit had already whispered to me with regard to my former sleep habits. Her book is a great autobiographical read. She tells the truth about the lies she has believed over the course of her life and gives practical, authentic ways to motivate change in your own life. Many of the chapters struck a cord in my spirit this summer and showed me where I’d been ignoring God and had gotten away from putting Him first. The Holy Spirit has used her words to convict me very audibly over the last several months, and I am grateful for that movement and recognition. At some point between when I first moved to Massachusetts and accepting my “dream job” in February of 2017, I stepped away from the habits that I knew were best for me and picked up the weight of sin again. The weight of avoiding today in a gross-assumption or guarantee of a tomorrow. 

When we aren’t feeling our best, that isn’t a free, guiltless pass to quit or give up what is essential to our well-being (time with God, exercise, healthy eating and living habits). This is only the beginning for you! Make every day that the Lord has made count. 

Choose better. Wake up from your sleep.