When Mike and I first got married he would always ask me why I was so quiet in the morning. I would tell him that I don't like to talk in the morning and he didn't understand. Mike wakes up in a good mood, ready to chat. He wakes up, turns off the ceiling fan, opens the blinds, turns on the tv and goes in the den for his devotional. About a year ago I asked him not to turn on the tv - there is nothing I want to hear. Then I began using that time to lie there and be with God, before the television comes on or before I pick up my phone. I thank Him for the gift of this day. I thank Him for my health, my family and all my blessings. I thank Him for equipping me for the day I have ahead and ask Him to use my in a mighty way.
When I saw this saying recently I thought of my Granny and my Uncle Larry. Instead of using bad language they always had "sayings." One was, "great day in the morning." It meant the same as, "oh goodness" and sometimes people shortened it to, "great day!" As I tried to find where the saying came from it hit me that it is a great saying. It is how we should start our day speaking and expecting great things for the day.
Psalm 3 and Psalm 4 are like bookends for morning and evening. Psalm 3 is for the morning and Psalm for is for the evening. We will talk about Psalm 4 tomorrow and see how David shows us how to have a good night's sleep. Psalm 3, "Lord, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me! 2 Many are saying of me, 'God will not deliver him.' 3 But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high. 4 I call out to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy mountain. 5 I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me. 6 I will not fear though tens of thousands assail me on every side. 7 Arise, Lord! Deliver me, my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked. 8 From the Lord comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people.'"
Think about what David woke up to in the morning. He had fled from his evil son. Then he thinks about the increase in the numbers of those who joined his son to rise against him. He must have felt like the whole world was against him. Then he had to hear that his God won't help him. That would torment me. But David went to God first thing in the morning.
Psalm 3: 3 is one of my favorite verses, "But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high." No matter what I face that day God is my Protector! What an encouragement this is for us! All of us have had days where we felt everyone was against us and we will have more days like that. Think of the "culture cancel" in this world today. One day you can have all the power in this world, be the center of attention, get all the praise imaginable and make an unbelievable amount of money. The next day you are dropped like a hot potatoes. Nobody cares what you say or think. Life changes drastically! Most of us will not have to experience that but it will be just as devastating to us when we feel everyone is against us. I am sure David felt like everything he had worked for in his life was unraveling. Maybe in your life it is your job, your child turned against you, your child is on drugs, your mate had an affair, false accusations are being said against you and the list goes on.
What did David do when his life fell apart? He wrote a psalm. When life falls apart, we must know who God is! He is our shield, our Protector! "But you, Lord, are a shield around me,
my glory, the One who lifts my head high." And we must call out to Him! "I call out to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy mountain."
"Good morning, God! I am in Your hands and you won't drop me!" Good morning I reckon, no matter what the world throws our way!