I love waking up on the first morning of a new year! There is the excitement and anticipation of what the New Year holds and the opportunity to restart many things.
Then add in the fact that each morning when you awaken, a new day awaits with the promise that God’s mercies are new every morning. Yet, we often don’t even want to open our eyes and start that new day.
That may be how you feel about the new year, too. You may be in the midst of very difficult situations that are carrying over from 2018 and you just can’t bear the thought of them continuing.
Well, don’t despair, my friend! Today’s passage tells us how David prepared himself to hear from God so that he would be able to follow God throughout his day. And, it is also a great way for us to be follow God throughout the year.
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV)
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
How do you greet the new day? A beautiful African-American Spiritual is, In The Morning When I Rise (Give Me Jesus). I call it a prayer-hymn. It reflects the thoughts of the hardships slaves had to endure, and their confidence in Jesus Christ as their Savior who would give them the strength to bear whatever they experienced, and who made a way for them to spend eternity in heaven worshiping God the Father.
Think about it. Many slaves had no earthly possessions they could call their own and they likely longed for some earthly conveniences and pleasures. Yet, many slaves understood that without Jesus Christ no earthly possessions, conveniences, nor pleasures offered them any help or hope.
The first stanza of this spiritual expresses the understanding that their relationship with Jesus was all they needed. It set the tone for their day as they sang this prayer, and helps us set the tone for our new year. Sing it with me as your prayer for the new year.
“In the morning, when I rise,
In the morning, when I rise,
In the morning, when I rise,
Give me Jesus.”
Refrain:
“Give me Jesus. Give me Jesus,
You may have all this world,
But give me Jesus.”
This hymn reminds us of the importance of beginning each day spending time with Jesus in prayer, Bible reading, studying, meditating, and contemplating in order to focus our hearts and minds upon Him. Through this time with God we will be strengthened with power through His Spirit in [our] inner being, so that Christ may dwell in [our] hearts through faith and be rooted and grounded in love (Ephesians 3:14-17). As we sing or read these words, we remember that Christ Jesus Himself is what we should want the most.
Fanny J. Crosby wrote a beautiful hymn also named, Give Me Jesus, that echoes these biblical truths. The last stanza expresses another prayer:
“Take the world, but give me Jesus;
In His cross my trust shall be,
Till, with clearer, brighter vision,
Face to face my Lord I see.”
The refrain explains the basis of our trust in Jesus:
“Oh, the height and depth of mercy!
Oh, the length and breadth of love!
Oh, the fullness of redemption,
Pledge of endless life above!”
Both of these hymns remind me of a C. S. Lewis quote from Mere Christianity: “[God] Himself is the fuel our spirits were designed to burn, or the food our spirits were designed to feed on. There is no other.”
In Mark 8:35-36 we find out that life is valuable, and as Christ-followers we must willingly give up our lives, knowing that we may lose our life for now, yet gain it again through eternal life.
May the Lord be pleased to give us a passion to know Him more deeply in the coming year and that we would be diligent to put our trust in God each morning as we seek His leading for our day.
Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love,
Psalm 143:8 (ESV)
for in you I trust.
Make me know the way I should go,
for to you I lift up my soul.
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