Devotionals for the Heart: Seeing God in the Morning, Noon and Night

Sunrise, Sunset
A devotional by Glynis Becker

“Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for I pray to no one but you. Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.” –Psalm 5:2-3 (NLT)

“He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps. The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade. The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night.” – Psalm 121:3-6 (NLT)

I would venture to say that most people consider themselves either a morning person or a night owl. Each of us has our own “wired in” way of interacting with the world. Some of us are up before the sun and can have half a day’s work done while everyone else is sleeping. That’s me, as long as the coffee pot is on.

Others don’t really hit their stride until afternoon and can work into the long hours of the night, way past the time my brain has decided to shut down for the day.

Since I’ve always been a morning person, I have a special affinity for sunrises. I love being awake enough to truly appreciate the pinkish light when the sun makes its first appearance of the day over the horizon. Even in the dead of winter, when our neighborhood is covered in dirty snow and not one leaf is left on one tree, a glorious sunrise gives the landscape a spectacular glow and a surprising beauty.

Sunrises are God’s daily reminder to us that His light and love are all around if we only stop long enough to see it. It’s a reminder that He cares for us – creatures of dust with lives as short as vapor – and wants to give us glimpses of the beauty He could continually provide this world if only we would let Him. He sees the potential in this new day and He wants us to not only see it, but come alongside whatever He is doing today and help Him bring His kingdom to pass.

So what about sunsets? Isn’t it nice how at the end of a busy or crazy day, God provides us a little while to intentionally stop, breathe, and calm the chaos? Sunsets are a reminder that the work will still be there tomorrow. There will always be a laundry list of things to do. The business of living will still be there after we’ve given our minds and bodies a chance to rest. And He will stand guard while we do, watching over us as we sleep.

While I may always be a morning person, I’ve decided that don’t want to be either a “sunrise” OR “sunset” person. I want to be both. Someone who appreciates the faithfulness of God throughout each day and pauses during those times to see Him around me, giving me strength to do the work, and comforting me as I rest. Both work and rest are necessary. And both are good.

My Prayer: Father God, give me eyes to see you in the morning, during the day, and at night. You are always with me and are always faithful. I love you and praise you. In Jesus Christ’s precious name I pray, Amen.

~*~
Author Bio:

Glynis Becker writes devotions and inspirational fiction, hoping someday to have a published novel on her resume. 

She has co-written several screenplays, including Sinking Sand, available on DVD and digital streaming.

Glynis, whose childhood was spent all over the country as an Air Force brat, has called South Dakota home for many years, along with her husband and two teenage children.

When she’s not writing or reading, she is watching more television than she should and crocheting. You can find her at www.glynisbecker.com.