Morning: The Secret To Mercy & Joy

MORNING:  THE SECRET TO MERCY & JOY

By: Julie Souza Bradley Lilly

“For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” – Psalm 30: 5 NIV

‬ “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” – Lamentations‬ ‭3:22-23‬ ‭ESV‬‬

These are two of my favorite scripture passages, because I love the hope they promise.  This morning I was contemplating God’s endless bounty of mercy and joy, and I asked the Lord, “Why do joy and mercy not come as soon as I need them?  Why do You wait until morning to send them?”

He responded, “Morning is the secret to mercy and joy.”

So, I grabbed my concordance. The word “morning” in both cases has the same root meaning—the coming of dawn, first light, and it relates to the word “kneel.”  It was a lightbulb moment.  It is not saying that we have to wait until tomorrow’s sunrise for fresh joy and mercy.  It is saying that when the truth about our condition finally DAWNS on us, and that first light of revelation illuminates our sin, THAT is morning.  And when we respond to morning by kneeling in repentance, mercy and joy rush in to greet us.

It isn’t the time of day that ushers them in.  It is repentance in response to revelation that holds the key and unlocks the door.

Morning and it’s companions, mercy and joy, can come at any time, beloved.  Are you lacking joy?  Do you need mercy?  Why not ask Him to illuminate your heart, and respond to any darkness found there with repentance?

Merciful Father, thank You that we don’t have to wait until tomorrow to receive mercy and joy.  Even now they eagerly wait for us to recognize our sin and respond with repentance.  Lord, shine Your light on our hearts.  And may the ensuing dawn find us on our knees, with our backs to the darkness.  In Jesus’ Name❤️

https://www.facebook.com/Prayers-of-a-Ragamuffin-Warrior-171515087035441/

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Unshakeable Hope

Image
  UNSHAKEABLE HOPE By: Julie Souza Bradley Lilly “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.” - Psalms ‭139:23  ‬NIV As the times we are in are heating up, our eyes search for HOPE and comfort.  We look longingly over our shoulder at the “Good Old Days”—simpler times, old relationships and habits—people and things that, in the past, brought momentary relief.  But, more often than not, we find that the fleeting well of comfort found there has since dried up. ‬ We have not been abandoned to fend for ourselves, however. God, Himself, will be our refuge!‬ When everything else is shaking, we have been given a glorious hope.  God is immovable, and when we put our trust in Him, so are we!  ‬ “Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people both now and forevermore.” – Psalm 125:1-2 NIV Beloved, let’s not until the worl...
Read more

Kissing Boo-Boos

Image
  KISSING BOO-BOOS By:  Julie Souza Bradley Lilly Oh, the miracle of a kiss on a boo-boo!  I remember being little and getting a cut on my finger.  I’d raise that chubby finger and go running to my mom.  She always knew what to do.  She would gently clean it, put on a bandaid and give it a kiss.  We weren’t done until my hurt had been kissed.  There was magic in that application of compassion and love.  It made the pain go away. We have all seen that toddler with a boo-boo.  They run to their mom or dad to clean it, put on a bandaid and give it a kiss.  If the wound isn’t treated, the tiny nick can continue to hurt and bleed. Each time it is touched or bumped they are reminded of the pain.  And an untreated wound can become infected and grow. There are people all around us with unkissed boo-boos today.  They are hurt, afraid or sad.  They go through life fearful of being hurt again, and looking for someone they can t...
Read more

The Secret of The Birds

Image
 THE SECRET OF THE BIRDS By:  Julie Souza Bradley Lilly “Praise the Lord from the earth, Sea monsters and all deep sea creatures; Beasts and all cattle; Creeping things and winged birds.” - Psalm 148:7, 10.   Morning has broken and the choir of birds outside my window is singing their hearts out.  Birds may not be considered to be intelligent, yet their response to God in hardship could teach us a few things.  We humans grumble to God about so much, but the birds praise their creator in severe heat and bitter cold.  They may have nests and the shade of trees, but they don’t have the many comforts we enjoy, yet they praise Him.  They know a secret:  God is enthroned upon our praises.  When our hearts are full of worship, He takes His rightful place and brings with Him joy and peace. Let’s take a lesson from the birds.  Their trust in their maker to provide for their needs, even in the face of harsh seasons, calls out to our faith.  It ...
Read more