Samuel D. High
sdhigh@aristotle.net
-----Original Message-----
From: Apostle Tom <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Sent: Mon, 4 Feb 2008 15:53:52 -0600
To: <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Subject: Morning Manna (Feb. 5); BP: Ps. 5; RBTTY: Mt. 23:1-22; Ex. 36-38
February 5 “Morning Prayer”
“My voice shall You hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto You and will look up.”
Psalm 5:3
There’s no better way to start the day than by communing with the One Who made it.
What was the first thing you did when you awoke this morning, Pilgrim?
Make a cup of coffee? Read the morning headlines or watch the morning news? Take a shower, brush your teeth and get ready for work? Roll over and catch a few more winks?
Everyone’s “morning ritual” is a bit different, for we’re all “different” and unique. However, today’s Manna reminds us of the importance of beginning a new day in the right day: By praying to the One Who held you in the hollow of His hand last night while you slept.
“But, I’m not a morning person!” someone objects.
“I can’t even function until I have my first cup of coffee!!”
So be it, Pilgrim. But, even while you’re stumbling around in the kitchen, trying to get the coffee to brew, you can still engage in “morning prayers:”
“Good morning, Father. Thanks for a good night’s rest and watching over me while I slept. Thank You for the strength to get out of bed this morning and for the assurance that You’ll be with me throughout the day” (or something like that).
Then, as you sit down in your favorite chair to enjoy a few relaxing minutes before hitting the road, why not grab the Word instead of the morning news and spend those minutes praying His promises back to Him? Oh sure. . .that’s might be a bit difficult if your “Read the Bible Through This Year” verses are in Deuteronomy or Leviticus; however, even there you can give thanks for your God being the same God Who sought to bring order and direction to the Israelites after 430 years in captivity.
King David knew the importance of morning prayer. That’s why he wrote, “Give ear to my words, O Lord; consider (Heb. ‘biyn’—‘to separate, distinguish, understand, attend to, discern, etc.’) my meditation” (v.1). Essentially, he was asking the Lord to sift through His inward musings and direct his steps according to His will (v.8).
How much better our days would be if we prayed this same way, Pilgrim! So often, we compile our “to do” list without ever stopping and asking, “What is most important to You today, Lord?” It’s quite possible He’ll say, “It looks like you’re doing a pretty good job to Me;” however, it’s also possible He’ll say, “Well, I’ve got something else a little bit different in mind for you today.”
The key is “asking” and then “listening.” David knew what type of God he served (vv.4-6, 12) and the “obstacles” he faced (vv.8-10). That’s why he placed his trust in the Lord (v.11) and so should we as we commune with Him each morning in prayer.
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