Waking up in the morning is something we all have in common, until that day when we are eternally awake in God’s presence. Morning is the most crucial time of the day for the Christian. How we wake up to greet each new day determines the quality of our Christian life. I remember waking up so many mornings “in the wrong way,” worried about the coming day, planning sinful activities, or just planning to “waste this day.” So this is important for me. How should we face each new day? The psalmist gives us some clues.

First of all, Psalm 118:24 – “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” We must realize that today is the only day we have. All our yesterdays are past, only memories remain. Of course our lives are shaped and formed by all the events of our past, both good and bad. But we must not be bound to the past because of sins or wounds of spirit. We do not possess the future, although we plan and look forward to it in hope. Today is the most important day of our lives, and we must live it in a way that glorifies God. (Remember that the psalmist was not having a trouble free day on the day he wrote this – he had been suffering very much. Nevertheless, he says, “let us rejoice!”)

Then, we begin the day with thanksgiving to the Lord. (Psalm 107:19-22) Upon awakening, the psalmist proclaimed, “I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustains me. (Psalm 3:5) 

We are already on our way to a beautiful day in the Lord. A way to make sure is to now confess our sins and receive God’s tender mercies and steadfast love, His forgiveness and loving care throughout this day. (Lamentations 3:22-23) When we do that, we will be able to look forward to God’s faithfulness throughout this new day.

A great secret of the psalmist was to be satisfied with God alone throughout each day (Psalm 17:14-15), and not just with his surrounding environment. “The Lord alone is my chosen portion,” says the psalmist (Psalm 16:5), “indeed the Lord is the portion of my inheritance and my cup.” 

You may feel the need to “cry out” to the Lord today; the psalmist did. (Psalm 5:3) Know with confidence that He will surely hear your cry. 

As we conclude our preparation for this new day (and all this only takes a few minutes), an important key is to spend some time waiting upon the Lord. (Psalm 27:14) We must take courage in Him, for He will lead us through this day in His strength, to victory. Most important of all, we must watch before the Lord, like a watchman, to see what He may want to say to us today. (Psalm 5:3, Isaiah 50:4-5, Habakkuk 2:1) God has a fresh word He wants to speak to you personally today. Take time to ask Him, and to listen to what He says. Then obey whatever He tells you to do.

Learning from the psalmist, and following his ways, leads us to offer our bodies as living sacrifices this day, to be available for whoever, or whatever, God may send our way. 

The result? We will be able to live this day without fear. The psalmist says it this way: “I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people who have set themselves against me round about!” (Psalm 3:6) 

Have a good day! Yes, this day can be good regardless of tragic circumstances that would seem to destroy us. God – remember, God alone – can make this day a day of victory for us all.