Do you ever specifically set your alarm clock an hour earlier in the morning just to have more time reading the Bible?

I do that once in a while- but it doesn't always end up the way I hoped it would. If you're at all like me, it's mornings like this that the

snooze button becomes your best friend.

The awesome part is that God has the power to transform rushed and hectic mornings into profound revelations about him.

Let me explain.

A few days ago, I was having one of these hard-to-get-out-of-bed days. But, I made up my mind that no matter how late I might be, I'm still going to spend a few minutes reading my Bible. I opened up to Revelations and a few underlined words really caught my eye. In almost each chapter of the book, I had the word "overcomes" underlined with a bold black pen.

It really got me thinking about what "overcoming" meant to me. Once I read all the verses together, a beautiful tapestry of promises was woven into my heart.

I was taken away by the remarkable promises that God made to those who overcame! Yes, overcoming is difficult- no matter what it is we're overcoming. But, God wants us to know that there is a reward for those who do overcome.

Here are the promises God has for you:

"To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God." (2:7)

"He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death." (2:11)

"To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it." (2:17)

"He who overcomes will, like them (those who have not soiled their clothes), be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my father and his angels." (3:5)

"Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name." (3:12)

"To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne." (3:2)

Now I am no theologian, but, I can tell that these are some powerful statements! Especially that last promise... God gives us the right to sit on Christ's throne! Can you believe it?

I was simply in awe of God when I read all these verses. God is willing to give me the most beautiful of treasures and the most honorable of priveledges! Who am I to deserve such things?

That led to revelation number two. I realized that to be granted these promises, I had to overcome. That means overcoming my bad habits, my sinful desires, my temptations, and all the other things the world throws at me.

As I analyzed myself and my overcoming failures and successes, I realized I've failed more than I've overcame. Although this was a hard bit to swallow, I knew I had to turn to God for strength to overcome in the future.

Alone, I am nothing. With Him, I can do anything.

What about you? Are you an overcomer?

Or is the snooze button still calling your name?