Now during the day He was teaching in the temple, but at evening He would go out and spend the night on the mount that is called Olivet. And all the people would get up early in the morning to come to Him in the temple to listen to Him. Luke 21:37-38

We all have our routines. We tend to be creatures of habit. Men used to go to the same diner each morning for breakfast, coffee, and a newspaper. Some still do in my neck of the woods. But the diners have been replaced by Starbucks these days and I doubt you’ll get a “mornin’ Joe” from anyone, all with faces planted in their devices with ear buds donned.

There’s something comforting about doing the same thing with regularity. The thing I’ve done since getting my own apartment more than 40 years ago is get up way earlier than I needed to read and study the Bible. I do have a bowl of cereal and coffee, but I dive in quickly, wanting to have a big chunk of time to dig deep. I’ve kept the routine down through the years, unaltered by marriage and four kids. If I’ve veered, it’s been to get up even earlier for peace and quiet. I’ve patterned this “day in, day out” practice after the Lord’s penchant for the same.

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. Mark 1:35

In his final days in Jerusalem, Jesus established a routine of teaching in the temple by day and retreating to the Mount of Olives at night to rest and pray.

At that time Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would against a robber? Every day I used to sit in the temple teaching and you did not seize Me.” Matthew 27:55

Here’s my point. We all should be creatures of habit when it comes to meeting up with the Lord. With God’s word readily available, in my case in the form of an iPad and Logos software, I’m ill equipped for the day without feasting on the truth first. These people had their brief opportunity to sit at the Lord’s feet and they rose up early to do it. It’s not too late to join him for breakfast.

He said to me, “Son of man, feed your stomach and fill your body with this scroll which I am giving you.” Then I ate it, and it was sweet as honey in my mouth. Ezekiel 3:3

Your words were found and I ate them, and Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart. Jeremiah 15:16