This past Monday, June 6, Sarah Young shared in my Jesus Always devotional the following sentence: When you awaken each morning, say “Thank you, Jesus, for the gift of this new day.” I have thought about this message all week and it makes so much sense. We all know we should pray as soon as we wake up each morning, so we establish our communication with Him before our busy day can take over our mind. But some days my brain seems to be racing forward as soon as I wake up, thinking about some things I must do that day, or some negative things that may have ended my yesterday.
But think about it, we are to give thanks to God for everything we experience, both the good and even the not-so-good. So what better way can there be to start our day every day than to thank God for His gift of life today to each of us! This first morning thought can influence our mind in a very positive way before it has a chance to start thinking negative or just busy thoughts.
Psalm 95:2 – Let’s come before His presence with a song of thanksgiving, let’s shout joyfully to Him with songs of praise.
Then there is a second thought to have once your thought processes are focused on God. Take some time to think about all the blessings you had from yesterday and make sure to thank God. For example, if one of my children is traveling for work, or their families are traveling, I will always pray for traveling mercies for them before they leave. Yet there are times when they have safe travels and I forget to thank Him after they return for providing for their safety. An early morning prayer can allow you to go back and think of your day yesterday and all the prayers that God may have answered for you and you didn’t thank Him. It is never too late to remember a blessing you had and to thank Him for it.
Psalm 9:1 – I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart; I will tell of all Your wonders.
If you are able to start your morning with these two thoughts to start your morning prayer, you can continue on this prayer path of a thankful heart and continue to focus on Him, to push back today’s thoughts and needs and problems. Trust me, they will be there later to focus on and think about to your heart’s content!
We all know it is important to start your day with a good breakfast, it is even more important to start your day in prayer focused on your Maker and Redeemer. He is the one who has given everything for each of us by His death on the cross, but was resurrected so that we may know that He is alive and with us today and every day. He will guide us and meet all our needs on earth, and then take us home with Him for all of eternity. So let us focus on starting every day the right way, by thanking Him for this day!
Psalm 118:24 – This is the day which the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.