Early Morning Thoughts of One in Love

The way Sundays and Tuesdays lay in my week allow me to spend more time enjoying the morning with the Lord. As a result, I favor Sundays and Tuesdays. The other days? Well… a Frank and Ernest cartoon I have posted at work says it pretty well: “I like to get to work early; before my brain knows what I’m up to.”

Today is Tuesday, though, so I’m enjoying the birds singing outside, the lightening of the sky in preparation for the sun’s arrival, and I’m about ready for my second cup of coffee — and not from a travel mug or Styrofoam cup. 🙂

I’m contemplating a verse from the 90th Psalm this morning. Psalm 90 isn’t the happiest selection in Israel’s hymnal; written by Moses, it recounts God’s faithfulness through some of Israel’s darker moments as a people. There are bright spots throughout the psalm, however, that stand up off the page like a daffodil in full sun. I’m considering verse fourteen this morning and will probably invite it to follow me through the day:

O satisfy us in the morning with Your lovingkindness,
That we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.

I’m thinking about this verse in light of the delights of first-moments together couples in love share together. The thoughts parallel nicely, at least to me. I love looking up from what I’m reading when my wife comes down the stairs into the living room on Sunday mornings, and we smile and say “Good Morning”. It’s a kind exchange. All is well; we are at peace. It’s a silent delight to awaken before one’s mate, look over and see the peaceful expression of the one next to you. (It’s not always that romantic, I know, but love has wonderful filters) 😉 Breakfast in bathrobes without the clock push-push-pushing can be the best part of a vacation. A non-aerobic walk -guess maybe I should say “a leisurely walk”- together in the calm of the morning while shadows are still long and the neighbor’s watchdog is still sleeping can be a treasure.

Similarly, I enjoy sitting with and quietly visiting with God in the early hours. His thoughts toward me (see Psalm 139.17-18) are gentle and soft-spoken, and I respond in kind. We are at peace when I’m living obediently, and it’s a satisfying exchange. I move into the day satisfied. Content. On good terms with my Savior. And it’s likely I’ll hum my way through today, even sing out-loud if it won’t interrupt somebody nearby. Today’s gladness is deep, quiet water, and now and then the joy will just ripple to the top.

If you’ve not trusted Christ as your own Savior, this perhaps sounds strange and unfamiliar to you. It’s real, I assure you, one of the results of knowing one’s sins are forgiven and your debt  has been paid — in full.  Eternal life is yours to enjoy  (not just someday, but now too!) and you and God are on speaking terms — at peace. Settling the Eternity Question is the most important thing you’ll ever do. Click on the “Eternity ?” tab above for more on that.

And now for my unofficial personalization of today’s Selah-verse:

You have satisfied me this morning with Your lovingkindness, Lord,

I’m going to be humming, and singing and be glad all day. Thank You.

I love You, Lord, and I lift my voice to worship You.  Oh, my soul, rejoice.

Take joy, my King, in what You hear; may it be a sweet, sweet sound in Your ear.