A Prayer a Day: Good morning, Lord. I’m up before the birds today, which makes me think of the daying, “The early bird gets the worm.” Well, it’s still raining, as it was yesterday, great volumes of rain, overflowing the spouting, and standing in puddles, in all the low spots in the yard. I don’t see a single bird anywhere. I assume they are in their houses, nests, or hiding deep in the trees, trying to avoid the rain. There’s not too much, “Singing in the rain today” maybe the singers aren’t early risers. Some people are naturally early risers.We know the saying, “Early to bed, early to rise makes a (man or woman) healthy, wealthy, and wise.” The benefit of early rising, according to most, is starting early with a fresh mind, gives you a head start on your day. All through the Bible, when anything important was happening the passage frequently begins with, “They rose early; who rose early: Abraham, Isaac, Samuel, Joshua, Moses, Jacob, Saul, David, the women who went to Jesus’ tomb, and Jesus. Jesus is always our first consideration. In Mark 1:35, we read, “In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there.” Lord, you want us to begin our day with thoughts of praise for the new day and words of intercession for those who are in need or suffering. Thank you, Holy God, for caring so much about us. I remember in Psalm 139:2, it states, “You (Lord) know when I sit down and when I rise up.You understand my thoughts from afar.” Lord, we are grateful that you know us from afar, and draw us closer. We are grateful, that you love us each one.Thank you for this new day, rain and all; we know each day is a gift you give to us.So, Lord, we are up in body, please lift us up in spirit, so that we may honor you. Come Holy Spirit and make us productive: amen.