Joy Comes in the Morning
by Christel Baxter
For some people, the morning is a difficult part of their day, because they battle to wake up, get up and show up. But there is something very powerful about the morning. The Word of God is full of accounts where people got up early to meet with God, or to fulfil a significant task. David was one of these people. According to our key scripture, he was a morning person when it came to his time with God.
In Biblical times morning was a special time for divine activity. We read in Exodus 16:21 that the Israelites were to collect the manna that God sent to feed them every morning before the sun grew hot, because when the sun grew hot, the manna would melt away.
When Abraham was tested and instructed by God to go and offer his son, Isaac, as a burnt offering to Him, we read that Abraham saddled his donkey early the next morning in obedience to what God said. (Genesis 22:3).
We read that Jesus often got up early in the morning to spend time with His Father in prayer (Mark 1:35), or to teach the people (Luke 21:37-38). On the third day after Jesus was crucified, ‘very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb’ (Luke 24:1). There an angel met the women and declared the good news of Jesus’ resurrection.
Mornings signal new beginnings, a fresh start. Lamentations 3:22-23: ‘Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.’ How wonderful to know this: God’s mercies are new every morning!
The morning represents hope for a change of circumstances, relief from suffering or oppression, new perspective. It has an air or expectation. ‘In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly’ (Psalm 5:3. NIV). David’s prayer-time every morning was something he anticipated and prepared for. He was expectant and hopeful to hear God’s voice.
Jesus was called ‘the Bright and Morning Star’ (Revelation 22:16). He is the Hope of the world, and the Author of new beginnings. Perhaps you woke up this morning full of regrets about yesterday – something you said or neglected to say, or a situation you didn’t handle very well. Maybe you have been going through a dry season where things have been difficult on many fronts, and the cares of life have been overwhelming.
Allow the Lord to renew hope within your heart as a new day begins. David cried out to the Lord in Psalm 143:8, “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 entrust my life.”
God loves you, and He is a God of new beginnings. He loves to make thing new, and He loves to restore and revive broken and dead places in our lives. He gives hope when all seems hopeless. Be encouraged that His mercies are new for you every morning!
Christel Baxter joined the Associate prayer ministry team at Shere House, S.Africa in 2008 after attending the 20 day school. Besides serving together on the associate team at Shere House, Christel & her husband, Gary, pastor New Life Ministries, a congregation in Boksburg, Gauteng. Their children, Liezl and Wesley, are both married, and they adore their son-in-law and daughter-in-law and their little granddaughter, Hannah! Christel is passionate about seeing broken lives restored and especially loves ministering God`s love and healing to women of all ages.
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