Autorentext

Tara Beth Leach is a pastor, preacher of the Word, and a writer. She is the senior pastor at Good Shepherd Church in Naperville, IL. She previously served as senior pastor of First Church of the Nazarene of Pasadena (“PazNaz”) in Southern California. She is a graduate of Olivet Nazarene University and Northern Theological Seminary. She is the author of Emboldened, Radiant Church, and Forty Days on Being a Six. Outside of her home church duties, she speaks widely at conferences, retreats, and universities across America on Church Leadership, Women in Ministry, and the call to be a Radiant Witness. Tara Beth has two rambunctious sons and has been married to Jeff since 2006.

Klappentext

Many people struggle to make time for God in their busy schedules or just aren't morning people--this book addresses those issues by helping Christians establish (and stick with) a spiritual morning routine.

The practice of waking early to seek God's presence is woven into the fabric of God's word. From the Gospels to the Psalms, from the wisdom literature to the historical narratives, the Bible resounds with the call to seek God early, to set the tone of our day with prayer, and to surrender the unfolding hours to his presence.

In The GREAT Morning Revolution, Tara Beth Leach shares how she adopted the ritual of rising early and discovered the transformative power of mornings with God--and she invites you to do the same. With practical guidance, spiritual encouragement, and a structured-yet-flexible approach, she shows you how to find sacred serenity in the early hours that will reshape your perspective and deepen your relationship with God.

The GREAT acronym provides guidance for your morning routine and can be adapted to meet your lifestyle and personal needs:

• Gratitude: Start each day with a grateful heart and recognize blessings that are often overlooked.
• Reflection: Examine your thoughts, actions, and motivations before a holy and gracious God.
• Exalt: Praise and honor God's goodness in your life.
• Ask: Present your requests to God and open yourself up to the guidance that comes from seeking God.
• Trust: Surrender to God's will, leading to peace and reassurance throughout the day. The book also provides tools for building the discipline needed for habit formation and lasting change.

For those who desire a deeper relationship with God but have trouble setting aside time for Him, The GREAT Morning Revolution holds a promise of renewal.

Inhalt
Table of Contents: Chapter 1: Joy Comes in the Morning This chapter explores the promise of renewal and hope that each morning brings. This captures my person story that began in the frigid Illinois winter, I found myself yearning for the hope that once filled my sunny California mornings, before the cascade of personal tragedies began. As I faced the grief of losing my father and witnessing my mother's decline with dementia, I realized my identity as a pastor and the joy of mornings had slipped away. Yet, in this wilderness, a holy whisper urged me to rise with purpose, challenging my long-held belief that I was not a morning person. Adopting a new ritual of early rising for scripture, reflection, and prayer, I discovered the transformative power of mornings by rising with God and purpose. This chapter is my call reader to join me in this journey, to seek the Lord's presence at dawn and find the strength that each new day holds. Chapter 2: Unlocking the Morning Routine In this chapter, readers will discover the key elements that make up a powerful morning routine. This chapter is an affirmation that anyone can become a morning person, transforming early hours from survival to a sacred space of clarity and mission. It's a practical guide that shows how structuring the first moments of the day can impact one's relationship with God and purpose of the day. Chapter 3: Lord, Teach us to Pray Focusing on the spiritual discipline of prayer, this chapter examines the teachings of Jesus on prayer, exploring its depth and richness. This sets up the remaining prayer practices by framing up the purpose and meaning of prayer. It offers insights into developing a prayerful attitude upon waking and incorporating prayer into the fabric of the morning, creating a dialogue with the divine as the foundation of the day. Chapter 4: Gratitude Gratitude moves beyond thankfulness; it's a way of perceiving the world. Gratitude begins with God and flows from God's presence. This chapter guides readers through the practice of starting each day with a grateful heart, recognizing the blessings that are often overlooked. It discusses the benefits of gratitude on mental and spiritual health and offers exercises to cultivate an attitude of gratitude that begin at first watch through prayer, journaling, or scripture reading. Chapter 5: Reflection The Christian practice of reflection is a contemplative act where individuals pause to consider their lives in the light of God's presence and teachings. Following gratitude, the invitation is to move to introspection, examining one's thoughts, actions, and motivations before a holy and gracious God. Through reflection, believers seek to understand the workings of God in their lives and acknowledge areas needing growth or repentance. Reflection in the Christian tradition is not just about self-examination but about transformation, as it invites the Holy Spirit to guide and shape the believer's heart and mind. Chapter 6: Exalt Exaltation, or the act of lifting high, is central to the experience of connecting with God. This chapter encourages readers to dedicate part of their morning to worship and praise, finding ways to honor God's goodness and presence in their lives. It discusses the transformative power of worship as a daily practice through possible means like worship music, scripture reading, prayer walking in nature, or journaling praises. Chapter 7: Ask Scripture reminds us that we can boldly approach God God hears our prayers and invites us to ask according to his will. Asking is an act of expressing our needs and desires to God. This chapter discusses the importance of presenting our requests to God each morning, aligning our will with God's, and opening ourselves up to the possibilities and guidance that come from seeking God's leading. Chapter 8: Trust Trust is an act of surrender, resolve, and closure. To trust is to submit and abide to God's will. Trust in God sets the