Almost every restaurant that opens early in the morning offers a Big
Breakfast Option. Breakfast comes with almost everything one would
want to eat. Carbs, protein, and more carbs and protein. Sometimes
they throw in fiber and sweets, but definitely it comes with a choice
breakfast drink. The idea is to start the day right with a full meal
that fuels you for all your activities.
For as followers of Jesus, the best way to fuel our day is to spend
its first moments with the Lord. As the bread of life, nothing is
better than bulking up on His words through Bible reading, and sharing
a meaningful conversation with Him through prayer and quiet time.
“Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me
shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” John
6:35
LIFE-CHANGING MEAL
Having quiet time with the Lord early in the morning is life-changing.
It is like having a Big Breakfast that will not make you faint amidst
the obstacles and challenges that will inevitably come your way.
Intentional time with the Lord is like storing reserves that will make
you more patient, prudent, and wise. This is because by acknowledging
God’s presence in our lives, giving Him the praise that He deserves,
and presenting to Him our concerns and fears, we declare our utmost
dependence on Him. When we do that, and declare that, it pleases the
Lord.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own
understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct
your paths” Proverbs 3:5-6
EVERYONE NEEDS QUIET TIME WITH GOD
Jesus Himself demonstrated the need for alone time with the Lord.
There were several instances in the Gospels that told about Him
praying alone to the Heavenly Father.
“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
JESUS MADE BREAKFAST FOR HIS DISCIPLES
He also made a Big Breakfast for His disciples. After He was
resurrected, He came to the oceanside where His disciples went back
fishing. There He prepared a breakfast for them, and talked to them,
specifically to Peter whom He commissioned to tend His flock.
“Jesus said to them, “Come and eat breakfast.” Yet none of the
disciples dared ask Him, “Who are You?”—knowing that it was the Lord.
Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise
the fish.” John 21:12-13
Going back to Big Breakfasts with God, like any sumptuous and filling
meal, it will require effort. A good and nutritious breakfast takes
effort to prepare. Quiet time on the other hand requires waking up
much earlier and finding a good place and rhythm to pray to God.
“But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to
your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will
reward you.” Matthew 6:6
ENJOYING A SUMPTUOUS BREAKFAST
Eating a big breakfast also requires time to sit down to enjoy and
finish the whole meal. So is quiet time. Quiet time means allotting
time for a heartfelt conversation with God to acknowledge His goodness
in our lives. It is never a hurried prayer, where we mumble to the
Lord what we want Him to do for us. Quiet Time also requires time to
read the Bible so that we could at least know what God wants to say to
us.
“Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a
joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O LORD,
God of hosts.” Jeremiah 15:16
NEED TO DIGEST
Big Breakfasts also need time to digest, and so is quiet time. It will
never be effective if we will not reflect on what we have read, and
what it means to our present life, and how we could apply it.
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a
man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror.” James 1:22-23
Another thing is Big Breakfasts are post-worthy, and so is Quiet Time
with God. No, I do not mean that you have to take a photo of you
praying, or your carefully curated spread of highlighted bible plus
journal plus nice mug, then post in your socials. What I mean is,
Quiet Time with God is worthy to be remembered through note taking or
journalling. You can tell others about it too by encouraging them to
start this prayer discipline in their lives.
TO-GO BREAKFAST
If however there are days that you will not have the time to sit down
for a Big B with God, then, give grace to yourself but do not leave
home without even a slice of bread. A simple prayer, followed up with
even a short bible passage and reflection is better than starting the
day without asking God to nourish you. Make sure to go back to your
Big Breakfast routine the next day.
“But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:4
If you’d like to start including quiet time in your daily routine (yes
even if you ar e a busy mom of littles), you may want to read my past
blog about it here: “How moms can carve a consistent prayer routine”
Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to
ponder on John 21:1-17 to dig deeper on today’s topic.
Reflection Question: How do you plan to strengthen your relationship
with God this year?
Conversation with the Lord: Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for adopting
me into your family. Please give me the grace to continue nourishing
my relationship with you. Give me the confidence to reach out to you
in the first moments of my day, and give me the strength to discipline
myself and grow my faith. I love you Jesus. Amen.
