Why do we say “good morning?” Where did this come from, that we automatically expect a morning to be good, like every day?
When we walk into the office and greet coworkers, wouldn’t it be more appropriate to say something like, “Go get ‘em today!” or “Make it more than mediocre, my friend”?
Maybe for those without faith in Jesus Christ, that could be more appropriate. But for children of God, we say “good morning” with zest and zeal because God declares, promises and makes it so.
“This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24) is one of my favorite verses. There is no wish in there, just a promise and a command. It’s a good day. Be glad.
With that in mind, spend intentional and intimate time with God every morning. It’s part of the “good.” I’ll give you 4 reasons why:
First, God’s mercies are “new every morning” (Lamentations 3:23). Each new day is a reset. God’s mercies find new healing, new hope and a new place in your heart at 6:00am that didn’t exist at 10:00pm the night before. It’s a new day for you!
Second, Moses once prayed to God, “Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love” (Psalm 90:14). Morning time with God sets the tone for the day. Begin the day with the only One who meets all your needs. His unfailing love will never let you down, no matter what happens. Put that on repeat for your thought patterns all day!
Third, “joy comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5). Morning and joy are partners. Picture a sunrise. Hear the birds chirping. Feel the cool air. Sense the freshness. Relax in the quietness. Turn toward all the blessed possibilities. Face the day with the faith that believes you always have reason to rejoice no matter what the circumstances.
My friends, don’t skip over that for screen scrolling, or you’ll get grumpy and stay that way all day. Nothing can replace the joy of the Lord. Trust it. Take it with you into each day.
Finally, recall what God taught his children as they wandered through the wilderness. They had left behind plentiful and pleasant food and drink in Egypt. They anticipated a fertile promised land but only after a desert journey. Moses recalls the lesson from God on that journey.
“He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord” (Deuteronomy 8:3).
Each morning God provided enough. Each morning God remembered to give the manna. Each morning the people were to collect what they’d eat but just for one day, no more. So, “Each morning everyone gathered as much as they needed (Exodus 16:21).
In the morning, each morning, the Lord sent a message of manna to his believers: “I will always take care of you.”
That is why we call each morning “good.”
PRAYER: God, morning is good. Always good. The morning refreshes, resets and promises newness as your gift of grace. Teach me to start each day in the morning with you. I’ll see you then. Amen.
BUILD A HABIT: What easy next step can you take to improve your morning time with God? Earlier? More often? Something new like music or podcasts or different material? More focused? Share with friends? Try a small improvement, and expect that it’ll sometimes be on point, and other times need a bit more work. But, it’ll be an improvement!