A Prayer to Rejoice in God’s Daily Mercies
By: Amanda Idleman
Bible Reading:
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. - Lamentations 3:22-23
Listen or Read Below:
What do your morning habits consist of? My husband and I are reading through Habits of the Household: Practicing the Story of God in Everyday Family Rhythms by Justin Whitmel Earley, and in the first chapter, he prompts reflection on how we start each day.
Are you just rolling reluctantly out of bed, grumpily entering the day? Are you allowing your heart and mind to be inundated with work, news, emails, and life's stressors immediately? Or are you pausing to welcome God’s grace into your day before moving into the many tasks that await you?
Justin makes some simple suggestions on how to start the day well. First is to begin with prayer. He suggests kneeling by the bed, but it could be as simple as lying in bed for a few extra seconds and offering a prayer to God before taking a shower. He then recommends reading the Bible before looking at your phone. This may take some effort, as we often use our phones for alarms and are easily sucked into the temptation to check emails and messages. Buying an old school alarm clock and a paper Bible could help you not get distracted by your phone at the start of the day.
Next, he offers the suggestion of creating rhythms for your morning routine that will help you connect with God. Praying with your kids, spouse, or roommates before you leave the house can be a great way to remind you all that you love God and each other. A set of morning questions can help ensure you are hearing and seeing each other before heading out the door. With some of my kids, my husband and I started the tradition of praying with them before they were dropped off at school. I also started telling them I love them forever, and no matter what, before they exit the car.
We experience God’s daily mercies most fully when we are consistent in connecting with the Lord at the start of the day. We must be intentional in inviting him into our day and arm ourselves with a proper perspective that seeks to see God’s goodness and mercy at work every day.
Connecting with God in prayer. Meditating on his Word. Creating rituals for our homes. Each of these simple practices is powerful in shaping our everyday lives. We know God and his mercies best when we choose a slower pace for our lives filled with moments where we invite God’s glory to shine through.
Every morning we have the chance to live and breathe is a miracle. There is nothing about our existence that is a coincidence. Everything, from the alignment of the stars to the arrangement of your cells, to the breath in your lungs, is a miracle. We take so much of God’s grace for granted, but honestly, every day we are given is a gracious gift from our creator. His mercies sustain us every morning.
Let’s Pray:
Father, we thank you that you promise to provide new mercies for us every single morning. Help us to grab onto your mercy and bring it into our everyday lives. Show us the best rhythms and routines we can implement to allow our souls and homes the best chance to connect with you each new day. Grant us the wisdom we need to succeed in embracing your joy and relishing your mercy. Let gratitude be a part of our morning routine.
Help us not to take for granted the gift that each new day is! Nothing about our lives is an accident. Help me to embrace the purpose you have for my life. Help me to share your love and grace with those around me. Allow me to be a model of your mercy to those in my home who watch me start my day. Let my words be ones that point them to you and remind them that you are good.
Show us your ways, Jesus, and teach us your path. We need you every day. Amen.
Share your reflections on today’s devotional in the Your Daily Prayer discussion on the Crosswalk Forum.
Photo Credit: Unsplash Aaron Burden
Amanda Idleman is a writer whose passion is encouraging others to live joyfully. She writes devotions for Your Nightly Prayer, Crosswalk Couples Devotional, Your Daily Prayer, and more. She has work published with Her View from Home, on the MOPS Blog, and is a regular contributor for Crosswalk.com, Biblestudytools.com, and Christianity.com. She has most recently published a devotional, Comfort: A 30 Day Devotional Exploring God's Heart of Love for Mommas, alongside her husband’s companion devotional, Shepherd. You can find out more about Amanda on her Facebook Page or follow her on Instagram.
Related Resource: Be Still - Advent Meditations
This Advent season can be full and hurried, which is exactly why we need moments to pause and be still with God. So Much More is a podcast created to bring you space to be with God - and this month, we're walking through Advent Meditations all designed to help you quiet yourself and hear from the Lord. If you like what you hear, subscribe to So Much More on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
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