Some days just start off on the wrong foot.  I get to bed late, wake to a crying baby wanting to feed earlier than normal as well as a toddler who wakes an hour earlier –no Bible reading, no time to think before my feet hit the floor and I’m off and running through my day.  I can either 1) shirk back under the covers and pretend I don’t have to face the day or 2) pray, rise up, and give praise to God.  Now granted, it may take me an hour or so to get to the point of praying and praising, but I highly recommend the second option as opposed to the first.

A lot of days lately, I have noticed that I am getting up and going, but, sadly, with a grumbling spirit.   I need to intentionally pause to pray as I rise and to thank God that He goes with me and before me, that He is a Holy God who cares intimately about every detail of life.  He knows all about what I must face today -the sibling squabbles and whining, the multiple attempts to calm a crying baby, my fears of inadequacy as a parent, my difficulty in trying to juggle or balance the needs of each child with the needs of myself, others, and things around our home, etc. etc.  If my focus is rightly on Jesus my Savior, He grants me a renewed sense of peace, strength, and energy amidst what can otherwise feel like chaos.

Portions of Hosanna by Paul Baloche…

Praise is rising, eyes are turning to You
We turn to You
Hope is stirring, hearts are yearning for You
We long for You
‘Cause when we see You, we find strength to face the day
In Your presence, all our fears are washed away
Washed away
Hosanna Hosanna
You are the God who saves us,
Worthy of all our praises
Hosanna Hosanna
Come have Your way among us
We welcome You here Lord Jesus
Hear the sound of hearts returning to You
We turn to You
In Your kingdom broken lives are renewed
You make us new . . .

Hebrews 12: 1-3

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses,
let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame,
and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men,
so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Thank you, Lord, that when I see You,
you grant me strength to face the day.