Read Psalm 108:1-4 1My heart is steadfast, O God! I will sing and make melody with all my being! 2Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn! 3I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations. 4For your steadfast love is great above the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.
How difficult it is for these words to form on our lips. How often do we actually declare the steadfastness of our own hearts? I don’t know about you, but my heart is often flighty at best and cold at worst. But steadfast? Courageous?
And what of this awakening the dawn with singing and melodies? Does that include hitting the snooze button? How many cups of coffee do I need before even a thought of the Lord comes to mind? Is my morning marked by courage or by control? I confess it is too often the later. What do I have to do today in order to succeed and maintain control dominates my thoughts, rather than what the Lord might do in and through me in spite of the myriad of things I can never control.
Thankfully it is not our own performance that motivates our courageous morning praise. It is God’s performance. His love to the heavens, his faithfulness to the clouds. All of which is placed into our being by the indwelling life of Christ. His steadfast heart is our steadfast heart. His being is our being. His love our love. His faithfulness our faithfulness.
To lives is Christ is to steadfastly, joyously, praise the Lord Jesus even before the sun has come up. Literally? Sure. Figuratively? For sure.
You: Does your morning routine include any form of praise?
You in Christ: How does God’s steadfast love for you in Christ motivate your personal praise of him?
Christ in you: What might need to change in order for you to find time in each day for thanksgiving and praise?
Pray: Jesus, your love and faithfulness know no boundary. May my heart find its steadfastness in its union with such boundless love and faith. Amen.
To Live is Christ 