“For even Christ didn’t live to please himself. As the Scriptures say, “The insults of those who insult you, O God, have fallen on me.” Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.
Romans 15:3-4 NLT
How do we wake up in the morning? Depressed because there is another day, with all its hassles, that we have to face into? Or raring to go, full of energy and vigour, more than willing to take on anything the day ahead can throw at us? Too many of us will probably fall into the first category, dragging ourselves out of bed in obedience to the alarm clock or a strident voice echoing up the stairs. A parent once told me of an infallible way they used to get their reluctant teenagers out of bed in the morning. It was a variation of the cold wet flannel. Instead they used to threaten a teaspoon of cold water poured into whichever ear was uppermost. Just a threat was sufficient, they said.
What do we do when we get up in the morning? Is it a mad dash to get to the office on time, or a more leisurely start? Do we start the day on our smartphones, reviewing the emails and messages that came in overnight? Then do we check our bank accounts and scan the news headlines? All tasks soon followed by feelings of regret that we even bothered because the bank account suffered from overnight transactions and the news was all bad. All worthy things to do in themselves, but would we have been better off reading the Good News, and lifting up our spirits into Heavenly places? I know we can’t live in denial, but perhaps God’s Word will give us the perspective we need to see the world through God’s eyes.
So, one thing we definitely need most mornings is a dose of hope and encouragement. Paul wrote in Romans 15:4 that this can be found in Scripture. And so it can. A good start would be to turn to Jeremiah 29:11. A well worn verse we know, but full of encouragement. “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Imagine it. God has plans for us. Good plans. And in them we have a “future and a hope“. And then we have Isaiah 41:9b-10, “ … For I have chosen you and will not throw you away. Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand“. God said that we are His chosen ones, and as we look to Him, with our hands palms up to receive, He will provide the strength we will need for the day ahead. His “right hand” is a picture of that strength, and it is “victorious” as well, implying that He has defeated all the foes who have come against Him.
There may be times when we have gone to bed, discouraged and oppressed after a bad day. Well, read Lamentations 3:22-24, “The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him“”!
Why do we wonder that we are depressed as the sun emerges in the dawn? When the morning breaks upon our consciousnesses? Paul wrote that we should be patiently waiting “for God’s promises to be fulfilled” and we can only do that as we take the trouble to find our what the promises are. When we neglect our spiritual well-being, the day, more often than not, becomes overcast with difficulties. A few minutes in God’s presence is worth far more than an extra hour or two spent in bed. In John 7:37b-38, Jesus said, “ … Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart‘”. A prayer I regularly pray in the mornings is this, “Jesus has been glorified and he is waiting for people to say, “I’m thirsty, Lord, desperately thirsty, and I’m going to go on coming to you until you give me something to drink deeply. I want living water inside. I am thirsty, and I want to be baptised inside, and I want within me a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”” Praying the promises of God is a powerful way to start the day, filling it with hope and encouragement through the power of the Holy Spirit. And you never know – those around us will probably be impacted as well.
Father God, thank You for all the gracious and loving words of encouragement contained within Your Word. Amen.
Being a Pilgrim 