The 4:44 AM Divine Interruption, 65 Degrees, and the Madness of Rushing Love

I woke up today at exactly 4:44 a.m.

Instead of rolling over and going back to sleep, I felt a heavy conviction to be obedient and get out of bed, especially since I had slept in and missed my reading yesterday. I listened to a sermon by Tony Evans this morning where he talked about waking up in these early hours. He called it a "divine interruption"—a sacred appointment when the noise of the world is dead and the Holy Spirit is shaking your soul, saying, "I need to speak to you."

So, I got up. Because I am fasting, I didn't even get a drink of water or make coffee. I wanted to give God the absolute, literal first fruits of the day with zero distractions. I walked straight out onto my porch to sit in the early morning air and dove right into the Word. I put on "Adonai" by Mercy Culture Worship in the background. I highly recommend their music right now; it is incredibly uplifting and immediately centers the spirit on the absolute majesty and holiness of the Lord.

Today's reading dropped me into the Song of Solomon. It is a beautifully complex, poetic book, but one specific warning repeated itself and struck a very deep chord: "Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires."

It made me think about the culture we live in today. Everyone is in such a desperate rush. People are constantly on dating sites, trying to force love to happen on their own timeline rather than trusting God's. I know the cost of that rush intimately. Forcing love and stepping ahead of God's ordained timing has only ever led to absolute madness in my own life. There is a profound, protective wisdom in waiting for the season God has chosen rather than trying to manufacture a counterfeit out of impatience.

Sitting out on the porch in the quiet, away from the air conditioning inside, my thoughts drifted to Cash. My son was definitely cold-natured. He loved taking cold showers to control his emotional response, and he always wanted the house thermostat set to 65 degrees.

We used to have so many fights over that thermostat. He would sneak out in the middle of the night and turn the AC down even more, and I'd wake up freezing, inevitably yelling at him the next morning. We eventually compromised at 68 degrees, even though studies show the human body generally sleeps best right around 67.

But ironically, lately I've found that I sleep much better when the house is at 65.

So, Cash wins the night. I keep the house at 65 degrees while I sleep now, though I put it back up to 72, 73, or 74 during the day.

I smile thinking about those old thermostat wars because, for the last three years we had together, I didn't yell at him much about it. We had reached a beautiful understanding. We had peace. And out here on the porch, in the stillness of this 4:44 a.m. divine interruption, that peace is exactly what I feel the most.

Today's SOAP

S - Scripture

Song of Songs 2:7 (NIV): "Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you by the gazelles and by the does of the field: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires."

Psalm 149:4-5 (NIV): "For the Lord takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with victory. Let his faithful people rejoice in this honor and sing for joy on their beds."

O - Observation

Solomon issues a strict warning against forcing love. Love, like all things ordained by God, operates on a specific, divine timeline. Attempting to rush or awaken it prematurely bypasses the healthy progression God intended and invites chaos. In Psalm 149, we see the posture we should hold instead of rushing: resting in the delight of the Lord, letting the humble be crowned with His victory, and finding true joy even in the quiet rest of our beds.

A - Application

The early morning wake-up today was a divine reminder not to rush. Whether it is a relationship, a business goal, or the deep, unpredictable healing process of grief, forcing the timeline only leads to madness. I have to humbly trust the divine timing of the Lord. I will let the house stay freezing at night, step out onto the warm porch to fast and pray in the mornings, and embrace the memories of my son that bring me peace. I will keep my heart focused on worshipping Adonai rather than forcing my own agenda.

P - Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for the divine interruption this morning. Forgive me for the times in my past when I have tried to force Your hand or rush love, leading to chaos and madness. Give me the profound patience to wait for Your perfect timing in every single area of my life. Thank You for the sweet, quiet memories of Cash and the deep peace we shared in his final years. As I sit on this porch and listen to the stillness of this morning, let my fasting spirit be anchored entirely in Your majesty. In Jesus' name, Amen.