The GREAT Morning Revolution is an invitation to begin with God---that is, to rise in the morning in the presence of God before reaching for the phone to check the weather, news, or email. Tara Beth Leach offers flexible-yet-structured practices for transforming your morning and your day.
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.
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 ones 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; its a way of perceiving the world.
Gratitude begins with God and flows from Gods 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 Gods 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 Gods,
and opening ourselves up to the possibilities and guidance that come from
seeking Gods leading.
Chapter 8: Trust
Trust is an act of surrender, resolve, and closure. To trust is to submit and
abide to Gods will. Trust in God sets the
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.
