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.

I’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