Morning Start

How do you wake up in the morning? Are you a bit of a grouch? Does it take a cup or two of coffee to get you moving and your brain functioning? Are you a morning person? Are you full of energy and ready to get your day going? Do you start your day by speaking with God?

Some of us are morning people. When we wake up, we are off and running as soon as our feet hit the floor. Others of us are not morning people. We need time to get a cup of coffee and slowly get ourselves moving. Some of it is due to our mindset and our habits.

I am a morning person. I’m sure some of it has to do with having been in the Marine Corps for twenty years. Having to be up by 5:00am every morning and often out doing physical training by 6:00am for that many years will train your body to get moving right away. When you include the days and nights of guard duty of four hours on and four hours off, you learn to be fully awake and alert as soon as you wake up.

There is nothing inherently wrong with being a morning person or not being a morning person. Regardless of which type of person we are, we can start our day the right way by reaching out to God. Spending a few minutes with God before we do much of anything else can change our mindset for the day.

Starting our day by reading Scripture, praying, meditation, or reading a devotional can change our lives for the better. Asking God to bless us each day, putting our concerns into his hands, and leaning on his strength relieves us of stress, anxiety, and fear. Building a habit of spending time with God to start our day is the best habit we can have.

I pray we all decide to build a habit of starting our day with God. I pray we spend time with God in prayer. I pray each one of us take time to read God’s Word and lean on him each morning. Start your morning well. Build the habit of spending time with God. Read Scripture. Pray each morning. Ask God to bless you each day.

Psalm 90:14

Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, 

so that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.

Solace and Comfort

Where is your dwelling? Is it a place of solace? Is it a place of safety? Is it always there for you? Have you spent time thinking about where you can go to be comforted and be assured that everything will be alright? Is God the one you know you can always turn to?

We all live somewhere. We may live in an apartment or a single-family home. We may live in a city or a small town or no town at all. We may have family or friends we can turn to when things go south. We may be a comfort to others when trouble finds them.

Having a place and someone we can turn to during difficult times is a blessing. Our place may be our childhood home and the person may be a parent. However, as we continue to grow older, those will no longer be available. A childhood home may eventually crumble, and our parents will eventually pass from this world. But there is always one person we can take shelter in—God.

God has been a shelter for the people who come to him since the beginning of time. He has been there in the past and will be there in the future. We may look for something or someone tangible. When we go to God, he will provide the tangible. We will provide us with a person who can be the one who comforts us when needed. He will provide us a safe place to be.

Some discover being in a church sanctuary or prayer room to be a place of solace. Some find speaking with a pastor to be a comfort. Some realize a close friend was put in their lives to be the support they need. Regardless of where and who we have in our lives, it is God who has put them there for us.

I pray we all discover a place of solace. I pray we find the person who will comfort us when needed. I pray each one of us know that God is always there and will provide what we need. Know your place of solace. Know who will comfort you. Know God provides. Be support for one another.

Psalm 90:1-2

Lord, you have been our dwelling place

in all generations. 

Before the mountains were brought forth, 

or ever you had formed the earth and the world, 

from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

Accept God’s Will

Have ever seen your goal so close that you could almost touch it, only to have it pulled away? How did that make you feel? Were you heartbroken? Were you depressed? Did you long all the more to achieve your goal? How do you think Moses felt as he looked at the promised land?

We all have goals. Sometimes those goals big goals. When we get close to them, we start getting anxious. We may strive all the harder to achieve them. We may be overcome with nervousness or anxiety and fail to reach our goal. That is when we can get depressed.

Moses was in a situation unlike any situation we will ever be in. He had been called by God to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. He led them through various trials as they wondered the desert for forty years. He was told by God he would lead the Israelites to the promised land. He led them to it. God showed him the promised land from a mountain top. But Moses was not allowed to go into the promised land.

Can you imagine having been on a mission for God for more than half your life, then being told you will not see the mission to its completion? That was Moses. God works that way at times. He provides a mission to us but does not allow us to finish. He has someone else in mind to finish what we have started. Just like Moses, we must graciously accept his will.

I pray we all accept God’s mission. I pray we accept his will for our lives. I pray each one of us will pursue God’s mission with all our heart and accept we will not finish it if it is God’s will. Know that God has a mission for you. Accept his mission. Graciously accept his will.

Deuteronomy 34:4 The Lord said to him, “This is the land of which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants’; I have let you see it with your eyes, but you shall not cross over there.”

God’s Things

How do you distribute the things in your possession? Are you wise in how you use them? Are you wise in how you distribute them to others? Do you wisely use your talents? Are you giving to God those things that belong to him?

We often hold on tightly to things in our possession. We consider them to be ours. We don’t want to give them away. It can be especially hard for us to give away money or sentimental things. However, we must remember that all things belong to God.

It seems as though the Jewish leaders were always trying to trip Jesus up. They were hoping to catch Him telling them something that went against the Law. Yet, Jesus always knew their minds and turned their trap into a teaching moment.

We may not think of ourselves as leaders, but we often have the same mindset. We think we are in control. Or we believe we know of a better way. That may lead us to thinking we know better what we are to do than God does. Those are foolish thoughts.

In Jesus’ reply, He did not say we are to stop living in this world nor disobey the ordinances of our culture. He did say we are to give to God what belongs to him. So, what belongs to God? The simple answer is everything. That means all possessions, all talents and skills, and our thanks and praise to God for what he has done for us. God more than deserves all of it.

I pray we all give God all that we have. I pray we give God all that we are. I pray each one of us seeks to give back to God what he has entrusted us with. Use your talents for God. Use the gifts God gave you for his glory. Give back to God what he has given you. It all belongs to him.

Matthew 22:21 Then he said to them, “Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

Entrapment

Have you ever laid a trap for someone? Did you set it up so that no matter what their answer was they failed? Did you think it was funny? Did it get the other person into serious trouble? Do you sometimes do the same, or at least attempt it, with God?

Sometimes we pull practical jokes on people that have no right answer. It can be funny, so long as no one gets hurt or gets into trouble. However, there are other times when we may lay a trap for someone that will get them into serious trouble. Those are not funny.

We may even do this with God, perhaps without knowing it. For example, when a loved one dies, especially if they are young, we ask God if it was his will or if he simply couldn’t stop it. See the problem with this question? It is an either/or questions and leaves no room for God to explain what really happened. It is understandable on our part. We are hurting, grieving, and may even be experiencing physical pain. We cry out to God and imply fault upon him.

But much like the Pharisees, trying to lay a trap on God is fruitless. They thought they had the perfect trap laid for Jesus. They asked if it was lawful to pay taxes to the emperor. Jesus knew the trap they were laying. God also knows the trap we try to set for him. Attempting to trap God is a foolish endeavor. We are better off asking to understand and see how God is working in the midst of our situation than to ask why with an inference of blame.

There have been situations in my own life that didn’t make sense at the moment. Later, sometimes years later, I understand the significance of that situation and see how God was working and used it to put me where he wanted me. The same applies to every one of us. God does not cause bad things to happen, but he does use them to put us on the path he wants us to be on. We need to seek understanding rather than blame.

I pray we all seek to understand what God is doing in all situations. I pray we ask for God’s wisdom. I pray each one of us stop trying to blame God and instead thank him for always being with us. Seek understanding. See God at work. Ask how he will use a situation. Know he is always with you.

Matthew 22:15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap him in what he said. 

Be Convicted

Have ever been convicted in your heart? Have you felt overcome with the power of conviction about something? Do you remember what that felt like? Did it move you? Did it put you in motion? Have you felt that way about or within your relationship with God?

Conviction can be a powerful motivator. When we are convicted by a message, it can cause us to take action. Not only action, but a highly motivated action. In many cases, it is a positive action to right a wrong or carry out a good work or simply do the right thing.

Paul writes to the church in Thessalonica that he and those with him had brought a powerful message, the power coming from the Holy Spirit. They didn’t merely speak words, but words filled with power. They spoke words that convicted those who heard them. The power of their words cut through straight to the heart.

We may hear words like that from time-to-time. They may come from a sermon on Sunday morning. They may come at a youth rally. They may come from a friend. When words come from the Holy Spirit, they always come with power and convict the one who hears them.

So, what do we do with those powerful words? Often, they stay with us for a lifetime. They are imprinted on our hearts and minds forever. They are life changing words. We hold onto them. We remember them with fondness. Each time we remember them, we are reinvigorated as if we just heard them for the first time. Think about a message that really touched your heart.

I pray we all listen for those life changing words. I pray we feel the power of the Holy Spirit in a message. I pray each one of us are convicted to follow Jesus through powerful words. Listen for powerful words. Listen for words from the Holy Spirit. Be convicted. Experience a life change.

1 Thessalonians 1:4-5 For we know, brothers and sisters beloved by God, that he has chosen you, because our message of the gospel came to you not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of persons we proved to be among you for your sake.

Thank One Another

Do you have good people in your life? Do you thank them for their work? Do you know of people who are doing good works in your church and community? Have you thanked them for the work they are doing? If you haven’t, it may be time for you to do so.

We often see a lot of negative stories in our daily news. Wars are being fought. People are being displaced. Politicians are arguing amongst themselves and slandering one another. Murders occur in our streets. It seems as though it is one negative after another.

Yet, there is a lot of good being done as well. Hungry people are being fed. Homeless people are being given socks and coats to withstand the coming winter. Children are being adopted. Programs are set up for people with special needs. Bills are being paid for those who had an emergency and would otherwise not be able to pay them. And these are just those we know about.

Good deeds are being done every day. Deeds that go unnoticed, except by the one or two people who are the recipient of them. Someone opens a door for someone they don’t know. A neighbor helps someone repair their vehicle. One student helps another with homework.

Many of these works are being done by Christians. They do them because of their faith in Jesus Christ. They do them out of love for Him. Not only should we all do these good works out of faith, but we should also thank others for their good works. It is by doing these good works in faith that we show Jesus to those who may not know Him. These small acts of kindness may be the seed planted that will bring someone into the kingdom of God.

I pray we all go about doing good works in faith. I pray we thank others who are doing good works. I pray each one of us provide hope to someone else through our acts of kindness. Do good works in faith. Thank others for their good works. Plant a seed. Give someone hope. Show the love of Christ to others.

1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers, constantly remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Extol God

Do you know what it is to praise someone? Who do you praise? Who do you lift up? Do you praise your parents? Do you praise your children? Do you hold your praises on the inside? Is it hard for you to praise someone? Do you know what it means to extol someone?

For some people, praising others comes easy. It is as though they are a cheerleader, letting others know just how much they appreciate them. For others, it is difficult to praise someone. It’s not that they do not feel praise in their heart, they just can’t seem to express it.

We are to praise God. Not just praise, but to extol him. To extol God is to praise highly, to laud, to eulogize him. In other words, we are to recognize all that he has done for us and praise him with our entire being. Recognizing what he has done for us can be a challenge. Not that it isn’t apparent, but that our culture attributes everything to hard work or luck, and we fall into that trap.

God has given each one of us at least one talent. He has blessed us with the ability to think, speak, and reason. He has given us physical abilities, even if it is nothing more than the ability to walk. Without these simple, yet extraordinary, gifts, we could not earn a living. We are to praise him for them.

But God did not stop there. He has blessed us with the ability to love, have compassion, show mercy, and be gracious. He willingly gave up his Son for our sake. He rose Jesus on the third day so that we know we, too, will rise again. He has given us salvation, an eternal life with him, where there will be no more tears, sadness, or hatred. He has given us hope. Without hope, we would be lost.

I pray we all extol God. I pray we praise him for the talents and gifts he has given us. I pray each one of us will praise God for the blessings he has given, especially the blessings of salvation and hope. Extol God. Praise him for your gifts. Praise him for your blessings. Trust he will continue to bless you.

Psalm 99:5

Extol the Lord our God; 

worship at his footstool. 

Holy is he!

Bold Before God

Do you consider yourself to be bold? What is the boldest thing you have ever done? Have you surprised yourself with your boldness? Have you asked God to see him face-to-face? What do you think God’s answer would be? Have you read what he told Moses?

We can be bold at times. We may be bold when we get angry enough. We may be bold when we are sure we are correct. Being bold can be good or can be foolish. We may think before we are bold, or we may jump out on that limb without thinking.

Moses was bold, very bold. He may have put some thought into it, or he may have simply got caught up in the moment. Regardless, he asked God to see his glory. In other words, he asked to see God face-to-face in all his majesty. Moses was, in effect, asking to see God as he is in heaven. He was asking to see God in all his righteousness.

God was gracious with Moses. He didn’t scold him or punish him. In fact, God agreed to show Moses his glory in part. He allowed Moses to see his glory from behind. Even at seeing God’s glory in that way, I’m sure Moses was in awe. But that brings a question to mind. How big is your God?

God tells Moses that as he passes by, he will put his hand over Moses so he will not be able to see God’s face. That simple image tells us that God’s hand is larger than a human. Of course, that is a simple image, and we know God is far larger than that, but it gives us a glimpse at how awesome God is.

God also states that he will show grace and mercy to those he desires to show them to. That may sound a little presumptuous. However, we must remember that God can see into our hearts. He knows our thoughts better than we do. He knows what we will do before we do. God is far better at deciding who to show grace and mercy to.

I pray we all come to realize how awesome God is. I pray we see his glory in our minds eye. I pray each one of us have a heart that God will choose to show grace and mercy to. Know that God is awesome. Be in awe of him. Have a heart for God. Accept his grace and mercy.

Exodus 33:18-19 Moses said, “Show me your glory, I pray.” And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you, and will proclaim before you the name, ‘The Lord’; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.”

God’s Presence

Are there situations you face that you wish you had someone to go with you? Are there times you wish you had someone to give you courage? Do you grow weary and tired? Do you desire rest, true rest for your whole body, mind, and soul? Do you know where you can receive it?

We all face situation in which we wish we had someone by our side to lend us some extra courage and strength. It is in those difficult situations that we reach out for someone to assist us. After facing enough of those situations, we grow weary and tired.

When we grow weary and tired enough, we finally hit rock bottom. We find there is nowhere else to turn. We do not know how we will carry on. Our minds race until there is nothing left to think about it. There is only one thing to do. We must turn to the only one who can pull us out of the pit—God.

Moses had come to this point. He was worn out leading the Israelites. He had been their leader, judge, organizer, and the one they blamed when things went wrong. They complained to him. They asked him why God led them to the desert. They yelled at him. He was at or near the end of his rope. He cried out to God.

God told Moses that he would go with him. He told Moses he would give him rest. God will do the same for us. When we truly cry out to him with our heart, he will answer. He is not looking for people who merely want a brief respite from their misery. He wants people who realize they cannot do it on their own, they need God to be with them every moment of every day.

I pray we all cry out to God with our heart. I pray we know that God will answer. I pray each one of us will seek God’s divine assist and receive the rest he desires to give us. Give your situation over to God. Cry out to him from your heart. Know that he will answer you. Know that God will give you rest.

Exodus 33:14 He said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”