February 4
“It is good to give thanks to the Lord, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; to declare Your loving kindness in the morning, and your faithfulness every night,” Psalm 92:1-2.
All of us claim to be very busy. We say that we have so many things to do that we just do not have enough time to get everything done that we want to do or that we feel should be done. Sometimes, we are just busy talking about how busy we are or think we are! In our busy life, we do not always keep our priorities straight. Things that are of greater importance are often neglected because we are doing things of lesser importance.
The Lord asks us to take and make time for things that He wants us to do. Through the words of the psalmist quoted above, God asks that we remember Him “in the morning” and “every night.” This reminds us of the words of the hymn writer:
“With the Lord begin thy task,
Jesus will direct it;
For His aid and counsel ask,
Jesus will perfect it.
Ev’ry morn with Jesus rise,
And when day is ended,
In His name then close thine eyes;
Be to Him commended.”
Do I hear someone say, “But I am so busy and in such a hurry to get to work in the morning, and I have to contend with all that traffic and the road construction – I just don’t have the time for a devotion!” Dear friend, alarm clocks are not that costly, and they can be set to ring or sound for any time earlier! And then do I hear someone say, “In the evening, I am just exhausted and too tired! Often I fall asleep while trying to pray the Lord’s Prayer!” Priorities!
Through the words of the psalmist, God asks you for time to do four things: Give thanks to God, sing praises to His name, declare His lovingkindness, and declare His faithfulness. Here is a suggestion: Take a piece of paper and write down during the course of the day the things for which to thank Him. There are things for body and soul and for time and eternity. Sing praises to His name on the way to and from work. Praise Him for His many blessings, of which the greatest is that He sent His Son to be the Savior of us all. Take every opportunity that comes your way to declare His lovingkindness revealed in Christ Jesus, who fulfilled the Law in our place and who took all our sins upon Himself and carried them to Calvary’s cross where He suffered and died to redeem us. Declare His faithfulness. God is faithful – He keeps His promises: “God is not a man that He should lie!” Numbers 23:19. “God . . . cannot lie!” Titus 1:2.
Meditate prayerfully upon the four things to which the psalmist calls our attention. Then proceed to fulfill your calling, whatever it might be!
We pray: Dear gracious God, I thank you for Your protection during the past night and for the light of the day to which You have awakened me. Bless me and all my loved ones this day according to Your Word and promise. Make me a faithful witness for You to all of the people with whom I come into contact. Forgive all my sins and send me on my way rejoicing in my salvation which You prepared through Christ Jesus. In His name I pray. Amen.