Focus

Stop and thank God for being present with you today. Ask for God’s guidance as you hear God’s voice through scripture and the writer.

Read

Psalm 90:12-17 (NRSV)

So teach us to count our days
that we may gain a wise heart.
Turn, O LORD! How long?
Have compassion on your servants!
Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
so that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
Make us glad as many days as you have afflicted us,
and as many years as we have seen evil.
Let your work be manifest to your servants,
and your glorious power to their children.
Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us,
and prosper for us the work of our hands—
O prosper the work of our hands!

Reflect

In the scripture verses preceding the chosen text for today, the author is sharing their thoughts toward God. Life is short and full of the justification for God’s anger from humanity’s “toil and trouble.” Yet, God’s steadfast love endures forever and God chooses to love creation with glory and power. This scripture shows the perspective of the author that the way to have a full life is to rejoice in the Lord in the morning. By starting the day by focusing on God’s love, it can be the fuel that energizes God’s people through life. It could be the very lens or perspective that we see through every day. By focusing on God’s love in the morning, it could also be an example for those around us to see our lives as an illustration of Christianity in the world. My husband Andrew and I were wondering how we could begin a day fresh with gladness. So, we started to take our afghan hound Theo out for long walks. The first few days were delightful and changed my perspective throughout the rest of the day. My mind had more clarity and joy because my family was intentional about starting the day with love. Then, the desire dimmed because my covers were calling me back to them for an extra 30 minutes. When I chose not to start the day with love and chose my own agenda, I seemed to be less joyful and focused on my ministry. Like always, God knows what God’s talking about! I’m not saying it will be easy every day. It certainly will be worth it. Let us all strive to be like this author and focus every morning on the steadfast love of God.

Pray

Let us rejoice in your steadfast love in the morning, God. Reveal to us the gift of joy, gladness, and fuel for our lives to work focused on you. Amen.

Go with God!