Rise Like a Lion in the Morning

Every Jewish man whose fear of Heaven touches his heart and who wants to serve Hashem should be fierce as a lion upon awakening. His deposit, his soul, has just been returned to him, so he should not indulge in sleep. He should rise and serve Hashem in holiness, whether by learning Torah or singing songs of praise, pouring out his words like water before Hashem. The Maor VaShemesh adds that this was the way of his Rebbe, Rav Elimelech: as soon as he woke from sleep, he would cry out, “Woe to you, you have wasted time with your sleeping.”