Invite God First Into Your Day | A Blessed Morning Prayer

Time is the most precious commodity that we have. However, unlike other commodities, time is something that we all want more of, but it's also something that we have no ability to acquire. We can't negotiate our way to having more time. We can't set up accounts that accumulate the interest of time. We can't establish businesses or give ourselves to a job to acquire more time. Time owns us, not the other way around. We cannot control time. Time controls us. Time restricts us, even. And as a result, most of us have uttered the words, If I only had more time. I'm sure we've all said these words at some point. If only we had more time to complete this or that task. If only we had more time to invest in this or that relationship. If only we had more time, we would do this. If only we had more time, we would learn a new language, travel more, spend more time with family, invest in our friendships, not worry so much about work and money, invest more in our relationship with God, or do more for the cause of Christ. If only I had more time. We have all uttered these statements at one time or another. The tragedy is that many people come to this realization late in life. And for some, it'll be far too late when they realize how precious time is. Too many people realize the importance of time when they're in a desperate situation. It's the man on his deathbed, or the woman who's been diagnosed with an illness that truly appreciates time. Several biblical authors knew of this human tendency to feel like we have more time than we do. Proverbs tells us, Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring. James chapter 4 verse 13 to 15 says, Come now, you who say, today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit. Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that. We must not presume that we have more time or put off developing our relationship with God because tomorrow is not promised. And time could come to an end at any time. Jesus implores not to be in a mind state of getting ready, but being ready. In other words, we should always be ready. We should always be working on improving our relationship with Christ and on utilizing our gifts for His glory. If we are always in a state of readiness, we will not have to worry about time. So dear brothers and sisters, use the time that you have wisely. Invest in the things of the Lord. Invest in your relationship with the Lord. Time is precious. I would like to share with you Psalm 90. And the reason I think that this is a great psalm to meditate on is because it reveals just how big and limitless and set apart God is. Our understanding as humans is too limited for us to even understand a God who has unfailing love, but also has righteous judgment. And so this psalm touches on many different themes. From the brevity of life and our need to live with wisdom. And so Psalm 90 verse 1 to 17, the Bible reads, Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations, before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world. From everlasting to everlasting, you are God. You return man to dust and say, return, O children of man. For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night. You sweep them away with a flood. They are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning. In the morning, it flourishes and is renewed. In the evening, it fades and withers. For we are brought to an end by your anger, by your wrath, we are dismayed. You may have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. For all our days pass away under your wrath. We bring our years to an end like a sigh. The years of our life are 70, or even by reason of strength, 80. Yet their span is but toil and trouble. They are soon gone and we fly away. Who considers the power of your anger and your wrath according to the fear of you? So teach us to number our days, that we may get a heart of wisdom. Return, O Lord, how long? Have pity on your servants. Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, and for as many years as we have seen evil. Let your work be shown to your servants and your glorious power to their children. Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us and establish the work of our hands upon us. Yes, establish the work of our hands. The Bible tells us that a thousand years to us is like a day to God. This shows us that God operates on a different level to us. His ways are higher than ours. And it's with this understanding that I want to encourage you to go to God. Have you ever really searched for something important? If you lose something that you need, what do you do? You retrace your steps or you go to the last place you remember seeing it. And if you can't find whatever you're searching for, you end up looking anywhere and everywhere. But it's different when you're searching for answers. Whether you're a scholar, an academic, a scientist, a detective, or a doctor. If you're searching for answers, you don't just look anywhere and everywhere. You're particular about where you look. You're particular about who you listen to. Everything concerning your search for answers is very specific. It's measured. You filter out any sources that aren't credible. It's interesting when you look at the lengths that we as humans will go to in search of answers. Now in the Bible, there's a man who had a request that God would search him. He wanted God to search every part of him. From his mind, to his heart, to his emotions. He wanted God to uncover everything and remove anything that was unholy and impure. Psalm 139 verses 23 to 24 says, Search me, O God, and know my heart. Try me and know my thoughts, and see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. David had six requests to the Lord. The first was God search me. Then it was know my heart. Find out everything hidden in my heart. The third request was God try me. Put me to the test. Number four was know my anxieties. In other words, know my thoughts. The fifth request was that God would see if there is any wicked way in me. Meaning identify or reveal the sin that's in my life. And finally, David said, lead me. Lead me in your way, in a way that pleases you. I'm fascinated that David wanted God to search him so thoroughly. Because truth be told, a lot of us hide things. Or at least we think we're hiding things from God. But let me tell you, saints, nothing is hidden from the sight of God. So I encourage you, have a desire to be purified by God. Have a desire for him to search you. And if he finds any hate within you, ask him to remove it. Ask God to search you. And if he finds any bitterness within you, ask him to remove it. Too many times we're holding on to things that hurt us. When in reality, we should be saying, Lord, search me. Search my motives, my mind. Search my being. Know my heart. Remove all of the impurities, the unforgiveness, the hurt. Try me. Test me, God. Because it is through the testing of our faith that we grow stronger. That we develop and that we mature as Christians. Pray that God would be the focus of your thoughts. And perhaps the most important place to begin is for God to see if there be any wicked way with you. May he reveal that hidden sin, the thing that we make excuses for. When in reality, it really is just sin. Once God reveals it, then pray that he may take your hand and lead you. In his will. Now let us pray. King Jesus, your word in James 4 verse 8 says, Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners. And purify your hearts, you double-minded. I've made a choice, Lord. I want to draw near to you. I desire to draw near to you. Because you've promised to draw near to me. And so, I pray that you would search me and know my heart. Make me clean. Lord, let sin be absent from my life. Father God, you are the strength of my salvation. And I give thanks to your holy name. Dear Lord, I desire to draw closer to you. And I begin by repenting. Father, forgive me for my sins. Forgive me for all that I've done wrong. I know that it's sin that separates me from you. So I pray that your blood would wash me clean. May I live a life that's consecrated in you. May the Holy Spirit strengthen and convict me to separate myself from the world. Because your word says that I should not be conformed to this world. But I should be transformed by the renewing of my mind. Forgive me and wash my conscience clean. Help me to keep my eyes looking unto Jesus, who is the author and finisher of my faith. In you, Lord, is everything I want. And in you, Lord, is everything I can ever need. Lord Jesus, I desire to draw close to you. Because 1 John chapter 4 verse 19 says, We love because he first loved us. God, you loved me before I ever knew you. And I thank you for that. I thank you because your word even says in Jeremiah 1 verse 5, Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you were born, I set you apart. I appointed you as a prophet to the nations. God, I thank you for such a deep love. Father, I thank you for such an everlasting and eternal love that knows no bounds. I desire to draw close to you. Because when I read Psalm 27 verses 1 to 5, I'm filled with confidence. I'm filled with hope and peace. Because your word says, The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid? When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, My adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall. Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear. Though war rise against me, yet I will be confident. One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after. That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. To gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple. For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble. He will conceal me under the cover of his tent. He will lift me high upon a rock. I bless your name, Lord. And I thank you for being the strength of my life. I pray that just like David, I may have only one desire. And that is to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. Because if I abide in you, I am kept safe and well. I am hidden in your pavilion. And set high upon a rock. Holy Spirit, I pray that you would birth an appetite for the word of God in my life. Birth a hunger in me, which will draw me closer to God. Birth in me an appetite for prayer and worship. I come to you, Lord Jesus, in recognition of your great might and power. In recognition of your love and your mercy. I'm seeking a closer relationship with you. A relationship that yields good fruit within me. A relationship that I know will bring peace and protection to my life. I worship your holy name, Lord. I adore you, Lord Jesus. Your blood is living and it's powerful. And I pray that it will transform me daily. I pray that it will transform me totally. Do not let me stumble, O Lord. Help me to overcome in the name of Jesus. You, O God, are full of compassion and I surrender my life. I surrender my family into your caring hands. May your name be blessed and worshipped forever. Thank you for hearing my prayer. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen. Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, wherever you had formed the earth and the world. From everlasting to everlasting you are, God. You return man to dust and say, return, O children of man. For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night. You sweep them away with a flood. They are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning. In the morning it flourishes and is renewed. In the evening it fades and withers. For we are brought to an end by your anger, by your wrath we are dismayed. You may have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. For all our days pass away under your wrath. We bring our years to an end like a sigh. The years of our life are 70, or even by reason of strength, 80. Yet their span is but toil and trouble. They are soon gone and we fly away. Who considers the power of your anger and your wrath according to the fear of you? So teach us to number our days, that we may get a heart of wisdom. Return, O Lord. How long? Have pity on your servants. Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, and for as many years as we have seen evil. Let your work be shown to your servants and your glorious power to their children. Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us and establish the work of our hands upon us. Yes, establish the work of our hands. Come now, you who say, today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit. Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, if the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.