Good Morning, Lord!

Fill us every morning with You faithful love so we can rejoice and celebrate our whole life long. Psalm 90:14

I awake in the morning
To greet a new day,
“Good morning, Lord,
What have You to say?”

 But, sometimes I'm just
Not in the mood,
My “Good morning, Lord,”
Is somewhat subdued.

Yet, He's eager to see me,
And show me His plan,
“Good morning, Lord,
I'll do the best that I can.”

There are days I can't wait
To get my day going,
“Good morning, Lord,”
I say without knowing.

Then there are days
I wake up in a fret,
“Good morning, Lord,
Have you answered me yet?”

I want to be eager
To spend time with God,
Saying “Good morning, Lord!”
In excited laud.

Work on my heart, Lord,
So I greet every day,
“Good morning, Lord,
I'm ready to pray!”

I recently spent a week with my daughter and grandson. It was an impromptu trip to be with her while her husband was helping a friend move across the country. I was beyond excited to spend time with them since she lives in another state. I couldn’t wait to wake up every morning and see my 1 year old grandson’s sunshiny smile! What a wonderful way to start the day! We had such fun playing, reading books, taking walks, etc. I enjoyed relaxing with my daughter as we chatted about our lives. Every day was an adventure that I fully enjoyed, and I soaked in every minute with them. The week was over much too soon, and I awoke the next day at home a bit melancholy. I already missed his squeals of delight at seeing me come down the stairs. (And I was just as delighted to see him!) Isn’t it human nature to want something so good to go on forever?

Two thoughts occurred to me. One, isn’t that how God is with us? He can’t wait to start the day with us! (The Lord your God is in your midst, a Mighty One who will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you by His love; He will exult over you with loud singing. Zephaniah 3:17) He has plans for us each day that He’s waiting to share with you. (For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11) He’s waiting for us to engage with Him. (Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. James 4:8) How wonderful it is to know how much God loves us!

My second thought was, do I feel as excited to start the day with God as I did with my grandson? I don’t know if you’re like me, but some days, yes, I am eager to pray, read my devotions, and hear what God has to say. But there are days I’m distracted, mopey, stressed, etc. My prayers are sometimes fractured as other thoughts keep creeping in. Sometimes I quickly read through my devotions, hurrying to get my day started. I don’t pause to listen to what God has to say to me. Although I know I’ll feel better if I just take time with the Lord at the start of the day, sometimes I just rush through it all. Fortunately, God is patient with us! (The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. Psalm 103:8) He loves us despite our fickle ways.

So how do we become more consistent? Persistence and prayer. Even if you’re just going through the motions some days, God is present. He can work in you and through you no matter how you face the day. He already knows how you’re feeling before you even utter a word. So, ask Him to work through your mood. Talk to Him about what’s distracting you. Not every day is going to be sunshine and roses. But God can still speak to you in those cloudy, dark days. He’ll meet you where you are, and if you engage with Him, what blessings He has for you! (Fill us every morning with You faithful love so we can rejoice and celebrate our whole life long. Psalm 90:14) Spending time with God is always a good thing. And the good news is that this good thing does go on forever!

Father God, thank you for Your unwavering love for us. Whether we’re having a mountaintop day or are in a valley, You are faithful to fill our hearts to overflowing. May we greet each day with a “Good morning, Lord” and an expectant heart that it will be a great day because You are walking behind us, before us, and beside us! Amen!

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