Every morning ushers in a new day, full of possibilities both for successes and failures. What are your first thoughts when the morning greets you? Do you think about possibilities? Do you think about problems? Do you think about your failures? Do you think about unresolved issues? Do you think about your Creator, the One Who loves you unconditionally with an everlasting love; the One Who died on the cross to redeem you from the penalty of sin’s separation and rose again for your justification; the One Who has a good plan for your life?

David was a human being, born with a sin nature just like you and me. The Bible records a song he wrote to greet the morning.

Psalms 3: The problem

¹(A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.) LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me.

²Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.

You remember the story in 2 Samuel 13-15. Absalom avenged the rape of his sister, Tamar, by killing his brother Amnon, while their father, King David, did nothing but be angry. Then after 3 years in exile, King David allowed Absalom to return to Jerusalem but refused to see him for 2 more years. Now Absalom, King David’s son, was out to kill him and take the throne from him. King David fled Jerusalem and is running from his son. Do you know what it is like to have a family member want to hurt you?

Why do you think David directed his question to Jehovah, the I AM?

Are there people who think God can’t help you?

Do you ever feel so sinful that God can’t help you?

Do you ever see so much trouble and feel God can’t help you?

Where to look for protection

³But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.

⁴I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.

Shield = a person or thing that protects

Glory =source of praise, honor, distinction

Lifter up of my head =There is a lifting up of the head by elevating to office, as with Pharaoh’s butler; There is a lifting up in honor after shame, in health after sickness, in gladness after sorrow, in restoration after a fall, in victory after a temporary defeat; in all these respects the Lord is the lifter up of your head.

The LORD is your resource

⁵I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.

⁶I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.

Sustained = to support, hold, or bear up from below; to bear the weight of; as a structure.

Notice that David chooses to not be afraid but to focus on God.

The power belongs to the LORD God

⁷Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.

⁸Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.

What do the words of this psalm mean to you?

How can you apply this psalm to your current circumstances?

When Morning Gilds the Skies – Germany, circa 1744

When morning gilds the skies my heart awaking cries: May Jesus Christ be praised!
Alike at work and prayer, to Jesus I repair: May Jesus Christ be praised!

When you begin the day, O never fail to say, May Jesus Christ be praised!
And at your work rejoice, to sing with heart and voice, May Jesus Christ be praised!

Whene’er the sweet church bell peals over hill and dell, May Jesus Christ be praised!
O hark to what it sings, as joyously it rings, May Jesus Christ be praised!

My tongue shall never tire of chanting with the choir, May Jesus Christ be praised!
This song of sacred joy, it never seems to cloy, May Jesus Christ be praised!

Does sadness fill my mind? A solace here I find, May Jesus Christ be praised!
Or fades my earthly bliss? My comfort still is this, May Jesus Christ be praised!

To God, the Word, on high, the host of angels cry, May Jesus Christ be praised!
Let mortals, too, upraise their voice in hymns of praise, May Jesus Christ be praised!

Be this at meals your grace, in every time and place; May Jesus Christ be praised!
Be this, when day is past, of all your thoughts the last May Jesus Christ be praised!

When mirth for music longs, this is my song of songs: May Jesus Christ be praised!
When evening shadows fall, this rings my curfew call, May Jesus Christ be praised!

When sleep her balm denies, my silent spirit sighs, May Jesus Christ be praised!
When evil thoughts molest, with this I shield my breast, May Jesus Christ be praised!

The night becomes as day when from the heart we say: May Jesus Christ be praised!
The powers of darkness fear when this sweet chant they hear: May Jesus Christ be praised!

No lovelier antiphon in all high Heav’n is known Than, Jesus Christ be praised!
There to the eternal Word the eternal psalm is heard: May Jesus Christ be praised!

Let all the earth around ring joyous with the sound: May Jesus Christ be praised!
In Heaven’s eternal bliss the loveliest strain is this: May Jesus Christ be praised!

Sing, suns and stars of space, sing, ye that see His face, Sing, Jesus Christ be praised!
God’s whole creation o’er, for aye and evermore Shall Jesus Christ be praised!

In Heav’n’s eternal bliss the loveliest strain is this, May Jesus Christ be praised!
Let earth, and sea and sky from depth to height reply, May Jesus Christ be praised!

Be this, while life is mine, my canticle divine: May Jesus Christ be praised!
Sing this eternal song through all the ages long: May Jesus Christ be praised!

Our focus = Hebrews 12:¹Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Our challenge = Dearly Beloved,

Run with your eyes on Jesus alone!

Run in faith that Jesus loves you, has uniquely designed and created only one you, has a good plan for your life, runs with you and will accomplish His purposes for you and through you!

Run in His strength alone!

Run with your eyes on the prize!

Run with the desire to finish strong!

Run with the desire to finish with your lamp burning!

Run with the expectation of being in His physical presence when you cross your finish line!

Run to His glory alone!

Run and keep on running!

Coach Patti