Baby It's Cold Outside... Baby It's Dark Outside.

It’s hard to wake up on cold dark winter mornings. Your body tells you its still night, and looking out of your window, your eyes try to convince your mind that your body is right as it shows you its still dark outside, so why don’t you snuggle in and sleep some more? The only thing you should listen to in these moments is your clock and your appointments for the morning.

I’m lucky I don’t have to go through this morning struggle all the time, for one, I don’t have to experience winter as often as it comes, (I have the harmattan alternative to enjoy) and because sometimes, I’m dragging myself to bed when people are just waking up to get ready for the day. I’m nocturnal like that. I work through the night, and in-between that, get distracted from doing what’s important by social media and sometimes a Cary Grant movie or two.  So I have a legit reason to sleep half way through the winter mornings.

My nieces on the other hand have my sympathy… I hear them move about preparing for school so early on those cold mornings and I feel so sorry they still have more years of school. How cruel for anyone to be out of the comfort of their duvet.

But some days I have to be up earlier than my beauty sleep approves. Drag myself to bed late and have to be up pretty early, to the dull darkness of a cold morning… with not a flutter or chirp of a bird outside to give the day a little life… and by the time I stumble through a scalding hot shower and bundling myself up in layers to meet my waiting cab, and sometimes a nice cup of hot chocolate to go, I’m ready for the day. It’s still quite dark and foggy and freezing, but its day and I’m on the move as a whole lot of other people too as the road and train station isn’t empty, and soon enough the light catches up with us. A little sun here, a little sun there, and a bustling life out of the dark morning.

The call of the comfort of a warm bed is pretty enticing and even sometimes legit, but we have to remind ourselves that the fact that its still dark outside doesn’t mean it isn’t morning and the world has started to move and live the day with or without us.

Proverbs 6:10 says A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— that's all it takes t miss out on a lot.

Don’t let the darkness keep you bonded and deceived that its still night… when you look at the clock and it says morning, you owe it to yourself to wake up and prepare for the day by what the time says and not what your comfort zone sweet whispers to you. I have considered scrapping plans one too many times because of those sweet whispers.

When God says its morning, take His word for it and believe… Don’t wait till you see the manifestation, a hint of light outside, before you believe and start preparing for the day or else you’ll find out you’re late for the party because you got played by comfort zone. Stop waiting for signs or you'll be so late!

In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. James 2:17

The ultimate sign of morning is the clock... the ultimate sign from God for everything we need and every promise He's given is Jesus... His death, burial and resurrection. That's all the sign we need to know that it's morning for us... it's time to live and take over our world.

Our faith is not by sight for we walk by faith, not by sight [living our lives in a manner consistent with our confident belief in God’s promises]— 2 Corinthians 5:7(AMP)

When God calls you blessed as His word says we are… take His word for it and behave as the blessed one. Leave the warm comfort zone of self-pity and condemnation and start your morning as the blessed one and you will see indeed the truth in it. “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.” Ephesians 1:3

When He says He loves you… "I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.” Jeremiah 31:3 Believe His word and stop looking at all the things you are not that disqualifies you for His love. Its not about what you see, its about what He says… you may not be perfect in your ways, you may fall sometimes in your walk… but that’s just the deceit of the cold winter morning getting you to snuggle back in the bed of sin and self condemnation… you may not be perfect, but the word says you are loved, so get with the time and out of the comfort of your fall and condemnation and act like the one who is loved, get a hot shower, wear a warm dress and move out about your life as the loved one. Its beyond what you see… how can we ever enjoy any goodness, and receive any promises from Gods words if we don’t walk only by faith?

Elisha’s servant got up early and went out (2 Kings 6:15) and he saw a great army circled around the city. He was panicked. You see, he looked out of the window early in the morning, and it was still dark… his eyes saw the Aramean army… but he didn’t see the manifestation of the word of God that promises protection for his own. It was a dark winter early morning, and panic was the only comfort he could warm himself with, he was moved by the sight of all those against him, until Elisha who had the consciousness of the manifestation prayed for his eyes to open, and then he saw an even greater army surrounding and chariots of fire surrounding them. It’s all about what you choose to see when you wake up… what’s against you or what’s for you.

Whatever comes against you… when God says in His word He will never leave or forsake you… “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:6 take His word for it… beyond what you see and believe, because when the light of the day comes, you’ll see that He truly was with you all the way through whatever it is you’ve been through or are going through. There’s so much for you than against you as a beloved child of God.

We’ve all received words for this year… we’re all excited and ready to conquer… don’t get discouraged if it still feels like night time of last year with the economy making your dream look dark and drab… get up and move. Don’t wait for the ‘right’ time, for things to look good/bright before stepping out… or you’ll remain in that comfort zone of the warm bed, waiting for things to be better and before you know it, it’s the end of the year, and you just wasted more time and delayed birthing something beautiful.

He who watches the wind [waiting for all conditions to be perfect] will not sow [seed], and he who looks at the clouds will not reap [a harvest].  Ecclesiastes 11:14

Baby it’s cold outside… maybe it’s even dark outside, but morning has come, wake up and live your dream and purpose… as you ignore the cold blues and darkness and move into the day you’ve been promised and given, light will eventually come, and the day will be an active hub as you conquer it!