Beginning our day
“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
I’m reading through a 17th century devotional manual by Lewis Bayly entitled The Practice of Piety. Popular among Puritans of the day, these devotional manuals provided practical help to believers seeking to live out their faith. The subtitle of the book perfectly describes the spirit of these devotionals: “Directing a Christian How to Walk, that He May Please God.”
I suspect the terms “piety” and “Puritan” don’t have much positive traction these days, but we would be arrogant to assume that those who came before us have little to offer. Their practical advice is invaluable. For example, in his comments on how to “begin the morning with piety” Bayly writes,
“As soon as ever thou awakest in the morning, keep the door of thy heart fast shut, that no earthly thought may enter, before that God come in first; and let him, before all others, have the first place there. So all evil thoughts either will not dare to come in, or shall the easier be kept out; and the heart will more savour of piety and godliness all the day after.”
Even as we work through the archaic language, we see the wisdom of Bayly’s words. He continues with the following advice,
“Begin, therefore, every days work with God’s word and prayer; and offer up to God upon the alter of a contrite heart, the groans of thy spirit, and the calves of thy lips, as they morning sacrifice, and the first fruits of the day and as soon as thou awakes say to him thus:
“My soul waiteth on thee, O Lord, more than the morning watch watcheth for the morning! O God, therefore be merciful to me, and bless me, and cause thy face to shine upon me! Fill me with thy mercy this morning, so shall I rejoice and be glad all my days.” (pg. 102).
Bayly’s suggestion mirrors the practice of orthodox Jews, who for centuries have recited the Shema each morning. Beginning the day with a sense of intentionality to “love the Lord with all our heart, soul and strength” sets the table for a good day “with” God. Such was the practice of Jesus, Paul, Peter and the early Jewish Christians who began each day with these words. Some Jewish traditions begin the Shema by adding the phrase "God, Faithful King." The addition of this phrase brings the total number of words in the Shema to 248, which represents the number of parts in the human body. Thus the faithful Jew symbolically begins their morning with a pledge to love the Lord with their whole body.
We often underestimate the value of such simple, but intentional practices to begin our day. Small acts intentionally engaged set the direction for our day and can significantly shape our lives over time.
Lewis Bayly, The Practice of Piety: Directing a Christian How to Walk, that He May Please God. Soli Deo Gloria Publications, Morgan, PA