I value My Mornings with You

Heavenly Father, I praise You as the God who transcends time and is always present. I know my faith and trust will be tested at times to make them strong and vibrant, yet You walk with me and within me always. Help me today as I take command of my morning and shake off any evil from it.

In the morning, O Lord, You hear my voice; in the morning, I lay my requests before You and wait in expectation.

But let all who take refuge in You be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread Your protection over them, that those who love Your name may rejoice in You. For surely, O Lord, You bless the righteous; You surround them with Your favor as with a shield. I will trust in You and not lean on my limited understanding of the world around me. As Your living temple, I lay my life on the altar as a living sacrifice, fully obedient to Your will and attentive to Your voice. I will continue to renew and expand my mind, keeping it clear of distractions and defeating all temptations that try to take root in my thoughts, so I may meditate on Your word, listen to testimonies that encourage my walk, and worship You through prayer, heartfelt songs, and actions toward all people whom You created and desire to know. Let me start my day with You—in my prayers, in my desires, and in my actions—so that my day may be wholly dedicated to You. [Psalms 5:3, Psalms 5:11–12, Proverbs 3:5–6, Romans 12]

Therefore, let me not sleep as others do, but let me be alert and sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. But let me, as a child of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and the hope of salvation as my helmet. For God has not appointed me to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for me so that whether I am awake or asleep, I may live together with Him. I will comfort myself and edify my brothers and sisters. I will acknowledge those who labor among me and those appointed over me in the Lord, who instruct me. I will esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake and live in peace among the body of Christ.

I am exhorted to warn the unruly, comfort the faint-hearted, support the weak, and be patient with everyone. I will not render evil for evil to anyone but will always seek to do good to others. I will rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in everything, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for me. I will not quench the Spirit, nor will I despise prophecies. I will examine all things, firmly hold onto what is good, and abstain from all appearances of evil.

May the very God of peace sanctify me completely. I pray to God that my whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. For I know He who calls me is faithful, and He will do it. Amen. [1 Thessalonians 5:6–24]