Day 162, or June the 11th. Begin the day positively. Our thoughts today are rooted in Psalm 59,
verse 16. I will sing of your strength. In the morning I will sing of your love. For
you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.
Now the big picture surrounding this verse. Today's thought comes from a block of five
psalms, all written by David, and all concentrating on our need for protection and turning to
God for it. During his life David spent a great deal of time running from his enemies,
so he knew a lot about protection. Psalm 56 was written out of the experience of being
captured by the Philistines, while Psalm 57 and 59 came out of his memories of being chased
by King Saul, even after he'd been anointed as king to succeed Saul.
And now our action step for today. When you are afraid it can be difficult at times to
know which way to turn. Some dangers require comfort from a loved one, but others are best
treated with advice or help from someone who understands the situation better than you.
David concluded that his God was more than able to take care of all fears and dreads,
so it was best practice to turn to him no matter what the problem was. However, he didn't
wait until the trouble arrived, he laid the foundation for victory as soon as it was day.
In today's verse we hear that David proclaims the strength and power of God as soon as he
got up. Now some of us find being a morning person easy, but for others it goes against
our nature. Nevertheless, David gives us a great idea to make the most of each day, and
it is up to you whether or not we follow his advice.
I well remember a speaker at a large conference asking how everyone had started the day. She
asked if we had woken up and said, Good morning, God, or had we said, Good God morning. There
was a sharp intake of breath, and then folk realized the reality of such a brusque statement.
If you haven't made Jesus your foundation for today, do it now, and remember to do it
tomorrow. First thing.