I’m a morning person. I know for a lot of you that may not come as a surprise, but I am pretty sure I have always been a little wired that way (although my parents may contest that was not the case during my teenage years). There is something about the sun coming up and the quietness of the world waking up that renews my soul. This past week I have been the speaker at a Preteen camp in Howell, MI and needless to say there are a few hours in the morning where I am the only soul who has stirred. I am able to walk through the field hedged in by a couple of lakes (really ponds at best) and it is almost as if I am the only person in the world. I am able to find that time with God in solitude and quietness in His creation and I have come to the conclusion that I neeeeed this.

It’s funny because I usually try to take time to myself early in the morning in my normal routine as well. But you and I know that this is not the same. As our mornings begins in our day to day life the thoughts come rushing in of what the day before us holds. We can’t help it. We have check lists and chores, tasks lists and appointments, projects and meetings, and pretty soon our souls have been drained in just thinking about all that has to be accomplished. No wonder many of us want to go back to bed shortly after the day begins.Where is the space for God in all of this? Where is the freedom that He needs to envelop us in grace and work through us in love. In Lamentations 3:22-23 (albeit a book of sorrowful worship) we read, “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

God’s compassions for us are new every day. Wow! I want to hear that again, God’s compassions for us are new every day. And yet, do we take advantage of that? Are we even aware it exists? I almost think God is singing over us as we wake with His imagination running wild for us for the coming day. He envisions the impacts we could have on others. He dreams about the opportunities for us to invest His love into the world around us. His heart is beating excitedly for the mercies he has shown us to be extended in wonder and amazement as we usher in the Kingdom.

But then the lists take over. Then the stress piles up. Where has the new day gone?

May we find a way to live into each new day as if we truly understand the faithfulness of God in extending us grace upon grace as children dearly loved by our Father in Heaven.