"This morning as you awakened, God's eyes swept over you;
He called you by name and said, 'Come, follow Me.' "
~ David Roper
He called you by name and said, 'Come, follow Me.' "
~ David Roper
Through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed,Because His compassions fail not.
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
~ Lamentations 3:22-23
Every morning is a new day. We begin afresh as we rise, with forgiveness for what has been, strength for what is, and bright hope for what is to come. We do not exhaust the Lord's mercies.
The LORD is good to those who wait for Him,
To the soul who seeks Him.
It is good that one should hope and wait quietly
For the salvation of the LORD.
~ Lamentations 3:25-26
Yesterday's grace is not for today. The soul needs to quietly wait upon the Lord with each new dawn, receiving fresh daily bread and living waters to replenish dependent relationship.
It is good for a man to bear the yoke in his youth.
Let him sit alone and keep silent,
Because God has laid it on him;
Let him put his mouth in the dust
There may yet be hope.
Let him give his cheek to the one who strikes him,
And be full of reproach.
~ Lamentations 3:27-30
The world is filled with suffering, disappointment, and people who let us down (or worse). Here is our job description: accept it all as allowed by God, trusting His purpose without complaint.
Though He causes grief,
Yet He will show compassion
According to the multitude of His mercies.
For He does not afflict willingly,
Nor grieve the children of men.
~ Lamentations 3:30-33 (NKJV)
Here is our hope: God's mercies are greater in scope and mightier and more abundant than the griefs and afflictions. We rest in the assurance that He asks far less than He gives and loves.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
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I've been waking up often in the middle of the night. One of my children is a night cuddler. By the time I get her back in bed, I'm semi-awake. God's led me to pray and it's been a pretty cool time during these nights--setting me up for some trusting days.
ReplyDelete~ Wendy
I trust Him for everything.
ReplyDeleteWhat better reason to have for looking forward to a new day ...
ReplyDeleteAn incredible word of truth! These minor light afflictions are nothing to be compared to the weight of His glory to be revealed in us! Thank you Anne. Beautiful reminder.
ReplyDeleteThe soul needs to quietly wait upon the Lord with each new dawn, receiving fresh daily bread and living waters to replenish dependent relationship.
ReplyDelete...love the way you put it. some morning's coming to the quiet is easy. other morning's it's like trying to hold a cat that doesn't want to be held. but regardless, i'm discovering the days seem calmer when the day begins with Him.
Wendy ~
ReplyDeleteMy youngest seems to finally be outgrowing that stage, and I think I shall miss it. But one of the best middle-of-the-night times is still a good thunderstorm. No matter how long they last, I can't bring myself to sleep through them, for I love to think upon the Lord's lightning power and hear His voice thunder in the quiet of still night.
Denise ~
ReplyDeleteRemember, dearest, He shall not take anything without filling the void with something better. If only we didn't have to first know the void.
Susan ~
ReplyDeleteI do think you (and Sandra Heska King) are the two people who best capture morning. It is a most pure and precious time of day indeed.
Jason ~
ReplyDeleteThe "weight" of glory is such an interesting concept. We know the weight of burdens, suffering, afflictions. How intriguing to think that His glory carries a weight all its own.
Bud ~
ReplyDeleteI can't count the number of days I caught myself at some point and said, "Ohhhhhhh. That's right. My time with the Lord was diverted by _____. THAT explains all this!"
And then there are the days when everything seems to be going down the toilet, yet the day started in Him and I don't seem to be overly ruffled. It's not a formula or magic words, it's simply the heart depending on Him in any moment's trial.
"yet He will show compassion"
ReplyDeletea lovely promise indeed...
Thank God himself I cannot exhaust his mercy! Now if I can only convince Him to remove some wrinkles. ;)
ReplyDelete"He gives more than he asks." Needed to hear that today. Need to model that with my family...with everyone I suppose.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
This is one of the most reassuring passages that I never get tired of, because I need it each day. "His mercies are new each morning" Every new day it is a surprise.
ReplyDeleteLaura ~
ReplyDeleteI think the visible temporal causes us to need reminders of just how compassionate our God is. I think it hurts Him to be accused of not caring, when His compassions are so immense.
T ~
ReplyDeleteThose wrinkles are blessings too. My late aunt called them smile footprints. :D
Jeff ~
ReplyDeleteIt's easy enough to have eyes for only what's being asked, and not for what's being offered.
And if we don't see what God offers, perhaps we also forget how much we offer our children. It'll never be enough, so the love has to come first, with prayers that it will manifest God's love. The rest? We attempt excellence and trust God to work in our imperfect efforts.
Brad ~
ReplyDeleteLamentations 3 is also one of my favorite passages. (I've got a whole lot of favorites.)
What I never cease to wonder about is that Jeremiah was able to write this while he sat amid the destruction and death comparable to Warsaw and Auschwitz. The context is what makes the prophet's testimony to the Lord's great compassions and mercies so amazing.
"Yesterday's grace is not for today. The soul needs to quietly wait upon the Lord with each new dawn . . ."
ReplyDeleteYou know how I've come to relish collecting manna in the morning.
I feel refreshed just reading this.
P.S. I caught that comment above. I thought my ears were burning. :)
Snady ~
ReplyDeleteWell I'm glad that you caught me talking about you behind your back! If my book ever makes it to publication, just wait and see how focal I made sunrise throughout. It's more than a theme, I think.
Manna in the morning. Ummm. Yes! :D