Morning Mercies
Each morning, when the sun pours over the horizon, you have an opportunity.
David—who held many titles throughout his lifetime: shepherd, warrior, giant-slayer, King of Israel, and a man after God’s own heart—said it like this when he was talking to God:
“Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you.”
Psalms 143:8 NLT
David recognized that each day was an opportunity …
To hear of God’s unfailing love. His mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:23) and His love endures forever (Psalm 118:2). But sometimes, we forget. Most times, we need to be reminded. Just as winter can’t be stopped from blooming into spring, we can’t stop the mercies of a brand new day.
To trust Him again. God is good, constant, faithful, merciful, honest, loving, unlimited, all-powerful, and the source of everything that exists. In fact, He can’t not be those things! No matter what we’re facing, we can know that He’s trustworthy. We can trust His character and we can trust His heart.
To watch, listen, and discern His leading. We can fix our eyes on the God who fixes His loving gaze onto us. Let us echo David’s words: “Show us where to walk…” Let us recognize His promptings, pay attention to His guidance, and listen for His “voice.”
To surrender our lives to Him. We can cling to our plans, dismiss His warnings, and fight for self-sufficiency, or, we can give ourselves to Him—fully. When we rely on ourselves, we will never be enough. But when we die to ourselves, we are choosing to live for Him.
No matter how dark the night, the sun rises again. And when that morning light pours over the horizon, you have a fresh opportunity to draw near to the One who loves you.
What God Loves
Psalm 33 is a beautiful chapter of the Bible. The writer's motivation is clear: praise. Praise God for how powerful He is, how good He is, how righteous He is. Praise Him for His steady plans, His all-knowing faithfulness, His love for His people. Praise God.
Early on in this outpouring of praise, the psalmist says of God, “He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord.” (Psalm 33:5) He doesn’t just appreciate, tolerate, or approve of justice and righteousness. He loves them.
If we, like God, love righteousness and justice, that means we cannot also love anything that is unrighteous or unjust. The world is full of dark things that call for our attention and affection. But God, in His steadiness, never stops loving the exact same things: righteousness and justice.
Is the earth full of darkness, evil, and sin? Yes. But don’t forget, this verse reminds us of something else the earth is full of: His unfailing love.
Today, take a ...