Sunrise-Sunset

 

This title sounds a little like a song from Fiddler on the Roof, right? Well I am a big fan of both sunrises and sunsets (as well as the movie)! They both bless me so much and invite me into a place to dream, reflect, and pray. However, waking up early in the morning isn’t usually what I am hoping for, but one of the added blessings of doing that is to see the sunrise. Everything about a sunrise is so beautiful. The big orange ball hangs in the sky, peeking up over the horizon, giving us glimpses into a new day; a new day beaming with promise and hope coming directly from the creator of the universe. Pair that with a steaming cup of strong coffee and my day is off to a good start. I love to meditate on God’s goodness and his mercy being new every morning. The emergence of another day represents freshness and a new start; a blank canvas and an empty page right in front of me.

Conversely, ending the day with a similar display of color is equally as inviting. I love completing my day with time to relax, enjoying the marvels of the setting sun, and reflecting over my day. I am often astonished that another day has slipped by and I have one less day to enjoy being on this earth. Sometimes I sigh in contentment that it was a wonderful day and other times I need to take a minute to process why it wasn’t. Taking time like this at the end of the day gives me valuable time to analyze my thoughts, emotions, frustrations, motivations, triggers and whatever else I need to process at the moment. By doing this at the end of each day (as often as I can) it prevents unprocessed, negative emotions from building up and taking root in my heart. It allows time for receiving gentle assurance from Jesus that His love for me hasn’t changed even though I may not have demonstrated his character very well that day. It gives me space for forgiving myself and others and clinging to the hope of an upcoming sunrise, where hope will be restored, and an unwritten story will unfold.

Would you say that you take the time to daily set your mind on hope for the future? Is this something that you struggle with? Is it easy to start your day feeling positive? If not, what changes do you need to make in order for that to happen? Also, do you take time each day for reflection to consider the attitudes and motivations of your heart? What can you incorporate or eliminate to allow for this?

Psalm 65:8 The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders; where morning dawns, where evening fades, you call forth songs of joy.

Psalm 59:16 But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love.

Psalm 113:3 From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised.

Oh Lord you are beautiful and all of creation shouts your praise. Let my heart be in tune with you from the rising of the sun until the time it goes down. Set my gaze upon your beauty and set my mind towards hope and joy. As I sit with you in sacred stillness, I visualize a day filled with faith. I breathe in the breath of life, who is Jesus, and celebrate as I reflect on a life filled with His goodness.