PSALM 92:1-2 – It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night.

THEME OF THE DAY. STARTING AND ENDING OUR DAYS RIGHT. How do we start our days? Are we the type of individuals waking up, hitting the snooze button a few times while already battling the stress over all that the day awaits for us? Maybe we are the types already awake most of the night fretting over life, and now the sun is up, we want to simply pull the blanket over our heads and let the world go on without us? There are two more types of morning people. We might be those who hit the floor running and rush into all the things we need to do, the people we are to serve, and like Martha or the Energizer battery bunny, scramble around going everywhere, doing everything (Luke 10:38-42). Or are we the type who wake up, and the first Person we greet is the Lord of Glory. Our first thoughts are heavenly and prayerful seeking the Lord. Okay, what about evening people? Where do our thoughts go before we lay our heads on our pillows and close our eyes? Are we too exhausted never giving the Lord a thought? Simply too spiritually distracted from the events and challenges of the day? Or do we look back and thank God for His faithfulness throughout the just completed day?

In today’s scripture, a wonderful way to start and end our days is provided. They are great “spiritual bookends” to help us do a couple of things.

First, if we start our day proclaiming the steadfast love of the Lord, our thoughts, even our lives, become oriented on the spiritual and eternal. We enter the day reminding ourselves of our relationship with the Lord, and the source, the only source, of power to do all things for His glory. It also helps us be conscious of His Presence throughout the day that enables us to represent Him well to the people we encounter at home or outside. Please remember, our walks with the Lord are intentional. It doesn’t just happen. We purposefully think on the Lord. We purposefully obey His Word, and if we are to get the right perspective on life, the spiritual perspective, we must purposefully start the day in heaven, not our world.

Another help in our walks with the Lord by starting and ending our day having hearts and minds centered on Him is the spiritual growth in the Lord we will enjoy. Think about it. If we take the time at the end of each day doing what the Psalmist does – “declaring God’s faithfulness by night”, we will look back on all the promises our faithful God kept even in the course of one day. He protected us. He provided for us. He walked with us. He empowered us. And the more we ponder His faithfulness, the more we grow in Him from that faithfulness.

So, consider how we start and end each day. If we follow the Psalmist’s pattern, we will know more of the Lord’s joy and walk closer to Him in a spiritual reality that changes us more and more into His image.

PRAYER: “Lord, help me to start the day thinking of You and ending the day thinking of You.”

QUOTE: “Start the day with the Lord before things of the world, and end the day with Him. It leads to a good night’s sleep.”