Morning Song

Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Give me a will, Lord, like Thou art's,
Create in me the purest of hearts,
Renew in me a spirit divine,
Guiding me to love all mankind.
Give me the strength to carry on
The tasks that every day brings on.

Prose and Prayer

I wrote this poem to the tune of “Faith of Our Fathers.” I taught it to my students every year, and we sang it every morning. Now that I’m retired, I still start my day with it. I’ve learned if I set the day on the right tone, my day goes better. In Psalm 51:10, David asks God for a pure heart and a renewed spirit. We all need a daily reset. Life brings all kinds of challenges, but when we call on God, He helps us keep our hearts tuned into Him. With that mindset, we can show love to others even if they aren’t being lovely. In Philippians 4:13, Paul says that no matter the circumstances, God will give him the strength to endure. When we face a difficult situation, we can rely on God to give us the strength to handle it. We cannot control what the world throws at us, but we can control how we respond. With God’s guidance, our actions and words will reflect His gospel of peace and love.

Lord, our world is a bit upside down, 
and there is so much uncertainty right now. 
We can become discouraged and disheartened 
if we don't keep our focus on You. 
Lord, I pray that we would continue to live out 
our faith no matter the challenges life brings us.
Amen