The night has been long and wakeful, my mind stuck in a loop. I remember a prayer for the night watches: Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You. Psalm 143:8
My heart grieves for a friend, so with every bit of grain-sized faith I can muster, I pray for mountains to move.
Sleep finally accepts me, but a few hours later, worry nudges me awake again. I inhale, testing out the weight of it for moment. Then, exhale. This time I’m ready. I gather my thoughts and counter worry with a word:
In the morning, O Lord, You will hear my voice; In the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch.
Psalm 5:3
Hey, Heart, over here! First things first: pray and watch.
Worry whimpers a bit as it fades out of focus, so I press on, fixing my gaze.
What’s that you say, Lord? Seek first the kingdom…(Matthew 6:33)
Yes, seek first the King!
Your rule, Your reign over every circumstance, over every ruminating thought, over every beat of my worry and wander prone heart — yes, Lord, come!
Oh, there’s more, Lord? Don’t worry about tomorrow, because each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:34)
Oh, yes, today’s troubles are coming, sure enough! But they will be met with His mercies.
Remember, Heart? Remember, Head? It is by the Lord’s great love that we are not consumed by anxious thoughts, for His acts of mercy are new morning by morning, His compassions fail not! What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all—how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things? (Lamentations 3:22-23, Romans 8:31-32)
Get up, Soul. Wake up, and wait. Consume the Word, then ruminate on this: The Lord is my portion.
Hey, Mind, chew on that for a minute.
The Lord is my portion!
Therefore, I will wait for Him.
Expect trouble. Expect delay. And then? Expect God.
He serves in heaps — He graciously gives! Wisdom is served in generous portions. Sure, trouble invades as an unwelcome guest, but the table is set anyway. Pull up a chair and feast. Drink from the cup that overflows! (Psalm 23:5)
When the anxious thoughts clutter your mind, wash with the water of the word. As the thoughts rise to the surface, skim them right off the top.
I’ll say it again — first things first.
Order your day by directing your heart.
In the morning, You will hear from me again, Lord. In the morning, let me hear from You.
Send out Your light and truth, let them lead me. Sing to me of Your steadfast love, for I trust You. Make me know the way I should go, for to You I lift up my soul. (Psalm 43:3, 143:8)
Get up, Soul. Put first things first. Come on, Heart, you have your orders: Seek first the King!
I rise early to meet You, Lord, only to find You’re already here, waiting for me. You are my portion, lavish and extravagant; able to do immeasurably more than I can ask or imagine, according to Your great power at work within us, (Ephesians 3:20). Glory! So, Lord, I’m asking! You are the God who moves mountains and splits the sea. Do it, again! Yes! I wait for You and watch with eager expectation.
