Tag Archives: Psalm 32:8

Beginning each day

 

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)

 

 

The Price Of Worry

What kind of a car passenger are you? I am often the passenger these days and I have nothing to worry about. My wife is a very safe driver with almost a perfect 45 year driving record. And yet not being in control (or thinking I am), I find my foot sometimes seems to press to the passenger side floorboard when we draw close to a car in front of us or come to a stop a little too quickly. I don’t want to admit it, but it is a form of worry.

Worry is an unproductive type of stress. At best, unproductive stress dampens the spirit of joy that God offers; at worst, it shortens our lives. I wonder how many seconds or minutes of life are given up to fretting uselessly about small things: Will I be able to get to the store, will the store have any bread left, will I get home in time? And of course, the famous, “What if?” and “what will others think?” The list goes on and on, doesn’t it?

Author Sarah Young comments that “worry is a form of rebellion.” By worrying, we rebel against our trust in own ability, our trust in others, and our trust in God.

The opposite of worry is assurance. And assurance is built on trust. We trust in ourselves, our abilities, our circumstances, our finances, our health, our God. (Hint: One of these is always trustworthy.) When you worry, what (or who) are you not trusting? Family, friends, and coworkers, God? I think we all realize how fleeting some of these are. Having lived a very healthy life, I would never have guessed I would be suddenly diagnosed with Leukemia. Health, work, finances, even daily relationships are suddenly and significantly affected. Some in this situation, or similar, have come to a point where it seemed pointless to trust God.

But faith brings hope and light to a dark world. Faith is the assurance of a good outcome even in a bad situation. Charles Spurgeon wrote, “A little faith will bring your soul to heaven. A great faith will bring heaven to your soul.”

Here’s to putting down worry and picking up peace and assurance!

“And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.” Isaiah 32:17

“My grace is sufficient for you.” – 2 Corinthians 12:9