Psalm 143:8 - Waking Up With God.
Psalm 143:8 - Waking Up With God.
Psalm 143:8 (NIV) Let the morning bring me word of your
unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should
go, for to you I lift up my soul.
Psalm 143:8 (NLT) 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.
Jesus felt the need for three simple habits in His earthly
life: (1) He stood up to read; (2) He went up a mountain to pray; (3)
He taught people the Scriptures--all "as usual" (Lk 4:16).
These three habits--reading the Scriptures, exposing oneself
to God in prayer, and passing on to others what one has found--are
basic to the spiritual life. If Jesus Himself couldn't get along
without them, how can we?
I am often asked by interviewers how I maintain my spiritual
life. I usually reply that it centers on a daily quiet time with God.
There are some days when a morning quiet time is not possible, but
most of my mornings begin with a time closeted with God in prayer.
Someone sent me a brochure once, telling me of a home that
had opened, which they described as "a place in the country where
those who have lost their spiritual freshness may come to tone up and
be invigorated." My quiet time is such a "place."
A sheep rancher in Australia found that his violin was out of
tune, and being unable to find another musical instrument to provide
him with a standard note, he wrote to a radio station asking them to
strike that note. They did just that--stopped a program and struck the
note. The sheep rancher caught it, and the violin was in tune again.
Your daily quiet time will help you hear God's "standard notes." Then
you can tune your flattened notes to His.
O God, I know there is nothing better than what I have found
in You--except more of what I have found in You. Help me today to
catch Your "standard note" and tune every part of my life to it. In
Christ's name I ask it. Amen. [Every Day With Jesus Bible with Selwyn
Hughes devotional]
For many of us, every morning is a battle. Between the time
the alarm clock rings and when our feet hit the floor, our thoughts
can spiral downward. Today's to-do list and potential hurdles
combine with leftover fatigue from yesterday, all seeming to conspire to
overwhelm us and beat us down. In a few very short minutes, our attitude
can shift drastically from neutral to negative.
Though the morning battle is real for many, it isn't
unwinnable. The key is to turn the downward spiral into upward momentum, and
the best way to do that is by inviting Jesus into your internal
conversation as soon as you wake up. Before thinking about to-do lists,
potential hurdles, lingering problems from the day before, or anything
else, have a conversation with Him - not about issues, but just for
the pleasure of His company. Enjoy the fellowship. Lie still in His
Presence. Utter some words of worship and gratitude. Listen to His words
of affection and encouragement. Let Him shape your internal
environment before you get up to face your external world. Make Him the
priority of your day.
When you do that, the day can take on a whole different tone.
And the tone of a day can have lasting impact. Decisions are made in
a different light, long-term relationships are strengthened rather
than weakened, ideas and innovation come much more easily, and
obstacles lose their power. Winning the morning battle day after day can
radically impact a lifetime.
Whatever it takes, invite Jesus into your morning. Before
your feet hit the floor, enjoy His Presence. The earlier you make Him
the center of your day, the more profoundly He will shape it.
Jesus, I know my attitude needs an adjustment every morning.
I invite You to adjust it - to hold me, fill me with Your
Presence, and transform me. You are more important than any issues I'll
face on any given day - and fully able to handle them. [The One Year
Experiencing God's Presence Devotional by Chris Tiegreen]
Are you acceptance driven? Do you overcommit in areas that
are outside of God's will for you? If you are anything like me, the
answer to both of these questions is yes. For the first twenty years of
my adult life I was caught in a maze known as the performance trap.
It was hard for me to say no to anyone for any reason. My
life was out of control. I worked long hours to please my employer.
My schedule after work and on weekends revolved around fulfilling
commitments to family and friends. I had virtually no time for myself and, I
hate to admit, no time for God.
In January 1999 I was exhausted and completely burned out. I
needed help, and I knew the answer wasn't within me. I began reading a
psalm each morning before I left for work. As I approached the end of
the book, these words from Psalm 143:10 leaped off the page: "May
your good Spirit lead me on level ground." There it was - balance!
God's Word always gives the instruction we need. Now when I am tempted
to overcommit, I repeat this verse to myself several times. Through
these words God has taught me to wait and to follow the promptings of
the Holy Spirit. The results have been a more peaceful and balanced
life.
Anitha Ainsworth is a CEO (Christ-Empowered Optimist). [The
One Year Bible Live Verse Devotional]
Relax and let Me lead you through this day. I have everything
under control: My control. You tend to peer anxiously into the day
that is before you, trying to figure out what to do, and when.
Meanwhile, the phone or the doorbell rings, and you have to reshuffle your
plans. All that planning ties you up in knots and distracts you from
Me. Attentiveness to Me is not only for your quiet time, but for all
your time. As you look to Me, I show you what to do now and next.
Vast quantities of time and energy are wasted in obsessive
planning. When you let Me direct your steps, you are set free to enjoy Me
and to find what I have prepared for you this day. (Psa. 32:8;
119:35; 143:8) [Jesus Calling by Sarah Young]
SPECIAL VIDEO CLIP ON SEEKING GOD: http://vimeo.com/31489782
SUPER SONGS FOR THE SEASON
Listen to the Angels Singing by The Martins [Live]:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-42QtR7RSw
Go Tell by The Martins [Live]:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UrPzelutyY
