Child of God, do you keep "the morning watch"? Do you make it the habit of your life each day to see your Father's face before you see the face of man? Do you hear His voice daily before you listen to the voices and din of this world? Do you read His handwriting in the Word before you look into your letters, papers or books? Once more I would ask you, do you do business with your God before you take up the business and duties of your daily life?
It is well for you if you can answer truly: Yes, "He wakeneth morning by morning, He wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned [instructed]." Isa. 50:4.
I have heard Mr. Hudson Taylor tell how, once, on his return after several years of absence from his family in China, he reached home in the early morning and went to the bed where his little daughter lay asleep. Fondly he stood by her side, looking into her face and waiting until she would awaken. Presently the little one moved, stretched herself, and then opened her eyes. They opened upon her father's tender, loving gaze. What a moment!
Child of God, do you know that your Father stands bending over your bedside each morning longing for you to open your eyes upon Him, and to look into His face until you catch the light of His eye resting in love upon you? What strength for all the coming day will this vision give you! The Lord looked upon Gideon and said, "Go in this thy might.”
Have you learned, like Samuel of old, to awake attentive to the voice of God, and to say at once, as he was instructed to say, "Speak, Lord; for Thy servant heareth"? As you awake, do you turn first to the written Word of your Father and say: "Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy law"? Do you know the sweet promise concerning His Word: "When thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee"? Prov. 6:22.
Such a beginning as this to your day will prepare you to meet whatever duty, trial, or service that may come.