Listen to my words, Lord,
consider my lament.
Hear my cry for help,
my King and my God,
for to you I pray.
In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice;
in the morning I lay my requests before you
and wait expectantly.
For you are not a God who is pleased with wickedness;
with you, evil people are not welcome.
The arrogant cannot stand
in your presence.
You hate all who do wrong;
you destroy those who tell lies.
The bloodthirsty and deceitful
you, Lord, detest.
But I, by your great love,
can come into your house;
in reverence I bow down
toward your holy temple.
Lead me, Lord, in your righteousness
because of my enemies—
make your way straight before me.
Not a word from their mouth can be trusted;
their heart is filled with malice.
Their throat is an open grave;
with their tongues they tell lies.
10 Declare them guilty, O God!
Let their intrigues be their downfall.
Banish them for their many sins,
for they have rebelled against you.
But let all who take refuge in you be glad;
let them ever sing for joy.
Spread your protection over them,
that those who love your name may rejoice in you.
Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous;
you surround them with your favor as with a shield.
~Psalm 5
Key Verse: “In the morning, O Lord, You hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before You and wait in expectation.” Psalm 5:3
How do usually start your day? There is nothing wrong with having some coffee, reading the news, and checking your messages. It is a very popular way to start each morning. Does your morning include feeding and nourishing your soul? Is there any spiritual hunger to meet with God?
David gives us a glimpse into the start of his day. 1) In the morning: God is David’s first thought, not an after thought. Connect with your Creator before you take on all of creation. 2) You hear my voice: It is fine to mentally plan, create a checklist, and analyze situations but those activities should lead to prayer. Saying your prayer out loud helps you remain focused on God. 3) Wait in expectation: When you are sincerely seeking God, you can expect a reward (Hebrews 11:1-6). Time with the Lord bears fruit and faith looks forward to what God will do during the day!
Inspiring? You might also enjoy his interpretation of Psalm 1
Jesse Bradley is passionate about helping people discover the grace of Jesus- both in practical and eternal ways. He serves as Senior Pastor of Sebastopol Christian Churchin Northern California, with degrees from Dartmouth College and Dallas Theological Seminary. Once a professional goalkeeper in Scotland and Zimbabwe, God redirected him into ministry through a life-threatening illness. He is the author of Rooted In Grace and A New Season. Jesse and his wife, Laurie, have three children.
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