The Morning Hour

The Bible has much to say about the morning hour. For example, David's testimony was: "My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up"; it is also recorded in Psalms by God's darling, "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning...I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning...[I will]shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning." David, like his Lord, and many of the saints in scriptures seems to have been a "morning person."

But in this article I want to call our attention to a text shown me by the Lord years ago. I have never read it that it did not rend my heart and bring tears to my eyes. It concerns the prophet Ezekiel. He tells us, "...at even my wife died; and I did in the morning as I was commanded." What a principle this dear man of God left each of us to follow! No matter the personal hurts, tragedies, or fears of the previous day, in the morning, "DO THE NEXT THING!" That is, take the next step.

The disciples spent a fruitless night, on the restless sea, but John records, "But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore." "O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted," know of a surety, at first light, when thy eyelids open from a restless night of sleep, Jesus will be standing close by. A whole new day awaits you, and a miracle might just be thrown in to boot. 

1. 1. 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!
   2. 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!
   3. 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!
   4. The night becomes as day
      When from the heart we say:
      May Jesus Christ be praised!
      The pow’rs of darkness fear
      When this sweet chant they hear:
      May Jesus Christ be praised!
   5. 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!
   6. Be this, while life is mine,
      My song of love divine:
      May Jesus Christ be praised!
      Sing this eternal song
      Through all the ages long:
      May Jesus Christ be praised!
2.