Every morning begins the same way. While it's still dark, I hear a soft meow from the stepstool beside my bed. It's my cat Butch's way of saying, "I'm ready to start the day. I've been waiting for you to wake."
If you've ever had a pet—or a toddler—you know exactly what I mean. Their eager anticipation is hard to resist.
Cats and dogs often wake their owners early because of natural instincts, familiar routines, or a desire for breakfast and attention. But Butch seems to have a different agenda. He simply wants reassurance we're still connected. A few gentle pats, and he's content to let me drift off for a few more precious minutes of sleep.
His morning greeting made me wonder: Does God wait in anticipation for us to wake?
Lamentations 3:22–23 reminds us God's steadfast love never ends. His mercies never fail. They are new every morning.
Each sunrise is more than the beginning of another day—you might think of waking as the first gift of the day. Whether it's your birthday or not, it's Heaven's invitation to experience renewed peace, and sweet fellowship with our Creator.
The answer is yes. God doesn't merely observe us from a distance. He joyfully welcomes us into a new day filled with purpose and possibility.
Perhaps the better question is this: Do we anticipate meeting with God as eagerly as He anticipates meeting with us?
Psalm 143:8 offers a beautiful morning prayer: "Let me hear of Your steadfast love in the morning, for in You I put my trust. Teach me the way I should go, for to You I entrust my life."
Michael Bethany captures this thought beautifully in his song Walk With You: "Early in the morning You wait for me to rise, counting down the seconds 'til I open up my eyes. I hear Your invitation. You have been so patient. So Lord, this is my reply: I want to walk with You."
Before the demands of the day compete for your attention, pause and remember: the first voice inviting you isn't your alarm clock, your schedule, or even your hungry kitty. It's your heavenly Father, whose mercies are already waiting.
What a beautiful way to begin the day—walking with the One who has been waiting for us all along.
God stays close to us in the silence, never forcing us to move before we are ready. Like a loving parent, God is always watching and hoping for our return. When we finally look up, there He is, in the quiet of the morning, ready to love us before the sun comes up.
