The First 10 Minutes: A Tone Setter

Psalms‬ ‭5‬:‭3‬

“In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭5‬:‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

For centuries this psalm, called the Morning Psalm, has inspired us as believers to rise early to seek God, before the new day comes rushing in on us. I have said for over 25 years now,  how you spend the first 10 minutes of your day plays a major role in determining how the rest of your day will go.

Over the years, in the crucible of life, we have discovered how right that old saint and King David were. It’s not easy to do, but it is simple. When we start out our day first with a time of Bible reading and prayer, it makes an enormous difference in the way that day plays out. We’re more likely to say and do the right thing throughout the day, and we also have a better chance of ending the day the right way.

David is a wonderful example of a man of prayer who trusted the Word of God. His prayer life was regular, systematic, orderly, and faithful, and he prayed with expectation that God would answer his prayers. Morning by morning, he directed his thoughts to the Lord and lifted up his voice in prayer and praise to the God of his salvation.

Day by day, he discovered that God's mercies were fresh and new every morning, for he knew that the Word of the Lord endures for ever and ever. Great is His faithfulness.

Moment by moment, he reflected on the Word of truth, contemplating the glories of God, praising the Lord for His many precious promises, and trusting God to deliver him from his enemies and from those that would seek to destroy him.

Evening by evening, David's delight was in the law of the Lord, and he joyfully and trustingly meditated on its truth, day and night. David knew that God's Word was a lamp to guide his feet aright, and a light to brighten the way ahead.

David was a man after God's own heart. From the moment he woke from his sleep, his thoughts turned immediately to the Lord, for David knew that God would hear his voice and hearken to his cries for help. He knew that God would hear his pleadings and petitions, and eagerly watched and waited for the answers to his prayer to be realised. And then, David rejoiced in God's never-failing faithfulness.

Too often, we have a perception of how God will answer our prayers and when our petitions should be answered, but God's ways are not always our ways and His timings do not always coincide with our eager expectations. But His way and His timings are always the best for each life, for He knows the way we should take.

Prayer is so much more, more than we realize and more than we can explain. It is more than making requests. It is more than offering praise. It is more than giving thanks. It is more than interceding for others. It is more than the positions we use to pray, kneeling, prostrating, or bowing before God.

Prayer is us knowing God wants us there and loves when we "wait in expectation" for him and his answers to our prayers. Prayer is expecting God to act and bring his redemption in response to our prayers. It is eagerly expecting that God will meet us in our prayer time and do what is best for us, and those for whom we pray!!!

Father thank You for this day and for Your mercies which are new every morning. Lord open the floodgates of heaven and rain down Your abundant blessings upon my friend and family today. Lord help us to be regular, systematic, orderly, and faithful in our prayer-life. Lord may we come into Your presence with joyful expectation, knowing that You are a God Who hears and answers prayers in Your own way and in Your own time. Lord let my friend be someone’s blessings today.

Father, we love You. Amen !