Morning Walks!

April 30, 2020

Morning Walks!

My wife and I are both working from home these days.  We are doing lots of Zoom meetings, many more phone calls, and have set up two offices in a house that does not have an office space.  It’s going pretty well, but we continue to make adjustments in our work rhythm.   

We have also made adjustments in our exercise routine.  Rather than go to the gym first thing every morning, we are walking/running in the early morning as well as walking in the evening.  It, too, is going pretty well as long as my knees hold out. 

I enjoy the early morning walk/run the most.  The sun is not up at 5:00 a.m. and people are not stirring.  Instead, the birds are singing, the air is cool, and I am very aware of the blessing of one more day.  

In Lamentations 3:22-23 (NRSV) there is a promise of God; “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” 

The amazing love and tender mercies of the Lord God never end.  In fact, the love and mercy and grace of the Lord are a brand new gift to you and me every morning.  These early morning blessings are more of a witness of the Lord’s faithfulness to give these gifts than it is my worthiness to earn these gifts.

I admit that there are times when it is difficult to believe this promise of God.  When discouragement, disappointment, and defeat seem to be winning, it is challenging to discern the love and mercy of God.  There are days when it is hard to believe tomorrow morning will bring me a fresh and new anointing of these precious gifts of God.

However, when I walk/run in the early morning I sense the Creator is doing something new, something fresh, something different.  I am both encouraged and infused with joy.  In Lamentations, we are reminded that the love of Jesus and mercy of the Lord “…are new every morning…”  There will always be more than enough for me and for you.

In Psalm 30:5 (NRSV) we hear a similar promise.  The Psalmist reminds us that God’s “…favor is for a lifetime.  Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning.”  The joy of the Lord comes to us every morning just as certainly as the sun rises every morning.  But, there is more; Jesus’ gifts of love and mercy and favor are available to us every day; they are for a lifetime!

I appreciate the opportunity to walk/run in the early morning hours; the exercise is good for my body.  But, the early morning is also good for my soul.  Whatever was getting me discouraged, disappointed, or defeated yesterday is being replaced with joy in the morning.  Whenever I go to bed uncertain of Jesus’ love or forgiveness or strength it is being replaced with the assurance of God’s favor in the morning.

I remember the words of the song, “Great Is Thy Faithfulness.”

“’Great is Thy faithfulness!’  ‘Great is Thy faithfulness!’
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—
‘Great is Thy faithfulness,’ Lord, unto me!”

(Lyrics by Thomas Chisholm, 1923, Hope Publishing Co., Carol Stream, IL 60188)

Every morning I remember the faithfulness of Jesus to me, to you, and to us.  When I hear the birds sing their early morning song of praise my heart sings, too; “Great is your faithfulness, O Lord my God!”

Take delight in the Lord!

Doug