How do you greet each day when you first wake? What thoughts first come to mind? Are you one of those who quickly bounce out of bed like an expectant child on Christmas morning? Or is the snooze button on your alarm the first thought that crosses your mind? Is your mind instantly filled with thanks and hope or do the worries of the day rise quickly to greet you? Does the morning light bring a smile or a frown to your face? Regardless of your natural tendency, there is a ‘secret’ of living each day well.
How you start your day determines your course.
We can choose to have a ‘sort of’ good day or a great one; one prone to wandering or one filled with wonder; alone or in the knowledge that the Creator of the earth has His eye on you to care for and guide you. Though circumstances may sway you to choose poorly, it is still your choice how you greet each day, with regret or thanks, with discouragement or hope and praise.
The Psalmist says, “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 lift up my soul” (Psalm 143:8). The Lord answers, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go. I will guide you with My eye” (Psalm 32:8). What imagery God’s Word provides us. He guides us with His eye because He alone can see our day and our future. His eye stretches over all of space and time. There is nothing unknown to Him. His eyes “range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him,” (2 Chronicles 16:9a). His eye is on the sparrow; how much more does He care for you! (Matthew 10:29-31)
There is some value in planning agendas and we can put some trust in maps and GPS to guide us. But we can put ALL our trust and hope in the One whose eye is on us as we begin and live each day.
“Why should I feel discouraged,
Why should the shadows come,
Why should my heart be lonely
And long for Heav’n and home?
When Jesus is my portion,
My constant Friend is He:
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He cares for me;
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.
I sing because I’m happy,
I sing because I’m free,
For His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.”
(Lyrics by Lauryn Hill, adapted from Matthew 6:26 and 10:29-31)