Morning Glory
“Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.” Psalm 143:8.
The morning is my favorite part of the day; it is so rich with possibility! “The womb of the morning,” “the dew of youth”—such Biblical metaphors have taught me that morning is truly a new beginning. What a blessing to have a new beginning every day!
Every morning, before or after I enjoy Bible-Poetry-Literature time with my youngest brothers, I go outside with my well-cherished Memory Box. The mere click of the box as I open it blesses me with an immediate sense of peace and happiness. The box is crammed with beautiful thoughts in beautiful form—Scripture principally, and also poetry, hymns, and English folk-songs.
There is a psalm now behind my “Even” tab—Psalm 139. There are so many wonderful thoughts in this Psalm, but here is a snippet : “If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.”
“My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning wilt I direct my prayer unto thee, and I will look up.”
Psalm 5:3
At the front of the Memory Box I keep index cards with prayer requests jotted on them—prayers of supplication and of thanksgiving. I believe this is the most consistent and satisfying prayer I have ever enjoyed.
“But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble. Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defense, and the God of my mercy.” Psalm 59:16-17.
“Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. For his anger endureth but a moment: in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning,” Psalm 30:4-5
“This I recall to mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:21-23.
“O LORD, be gracious unto us; we have waited for thee: be thou their arm every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble.” Isaiah 33:2.
“Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily; and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward.” Isaiah 58:6-8.
“I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope. My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.” Psalm 130:5-6.
Photographs: My three morning glory vines really took over the trellis last summer. Every morning there was a purple heap of blossoms on the screen roof.
Photographs and text © 2011.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012