Lamentations 3:22 - 24 (ESV)
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; (23) they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (24) “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”
We all have bad days, let's be honest with each other. The reasons for having a bad day are innumerable, from having a taxi pull out in front of you in traffic on your way to work, to the passing away of a friend. No matter the extreme, both can cause negative emotions leaving us feeling sad and down, sometimes even depressed. Most of us would have experienced a spiral of emotions where one bad incident can spiral into a mini depression lasting even into the next day and sometimes even week.
But the writer of this verse identified 2 things that could counteract such a spiral of negative emotions. 1) A new dawn means a fresh start.
2) Appreciating God's mercy.
When you combine the 2 together, you have the perfect recipe for snapping out of an emotional breakdown of any kind.
Firstly, the simple act of sleeping and waking up a few hours later is like a filter for the brain. All the bad stuff that was said and done the day before is often filtered out of our consciousness and we wake up with a clear mind. Add to this the fact that a rising sun inspires most people to face a new day with passion, and already you have a great opportunity to forget the past.
Secondly, we need to realise that each new day provides a new opportunity for God to show His Mercy, Faithfulness, Love and Goodness. Considering these aspects inspires the writer to worship (look at verse 24). When we appreciate the small things each and every day, it will inspire worship within our hearts. Worship helps us to be mindful of God, and being mindful of God gives one Supernatural Joy and Peace. It is a perfect cycle.
So my friend, the next time you have a bad day, don't let your anger or emotion affect those around you (Eph. 4:26), but then get to bed and allow God's natural design of sleep clear your mind. Wake up to the fresh smelling brew of a cup of tea or coffee, thankful that you have such a sensitive smell; look at the sun breaking through the clouds as it rises for another day, thankful that you can see it's beauty and feel it's warmth; and face the day knowing that God is good, and He has good things in store for you today. Because He has, you just need to find them and take them.
The Lord truly is our portion, and our hope is in Him, because He is Good!
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; (23) they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (24) “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”
We all have bad days, let's be honest with each other. The reasons for having a bad day are innumerable, from having a taxi pull out in front of you in traffic on your way to work, to the passing away of a friend. No matter the extreme, both can cause negative emotions leaving us feeling sad and down, sometimes even depressed. Most of us would have experienced a spiral of emotions where one bad incident can spiral into a mini depression lasting even into the next day and sometimes even week.
But the writer of this verse identified 2 things that could counteract such a spiral of negative emotions. 1) A new dawn means a fresh start.
2) Appreciating God's mercy.
When you combine the 2 together, you have the perfect recipe for snapping out of an emotional breakdown of any kind.
Firstly, the simple act of sleeping and waking up a few hours later is like a filter for the brain. All the bad stuff that was said and done the day before is often filtered out of our consciousness and we wake up with a clear mind. Add to this the fact that a rising sun inspires most people to face a new day with passion, and already you have a great opportunity to forget the past.
Secondly, we need to realise that each new day provides a new opportunity for God to show His Mercy, Faithfulness, Love and Goodness. Considering these aspects inspires the writer to worship (look at verse 24). When we appreciate the small things each and every day, it will inspire worship within our hearts. Worship helps us to be mindful of God, and being mindful of God gives one Supernatural Joy and Peace. It is a perfect cycle.
So my friend, the next time you have a bad day, don't let your anger or emotion affect those around you (Eph. 4:26), but then get to bed and allow God's natural design of sleep clear your mind. Wake up to the fresh smelling brew of a cup of tea or coffee, thankful that you have such a sensitive smell; look at the sun breaking through the clouds as it rises for another day, thankful that you can see it's beauty and feel it's warmth; and face the day knowing that God is good, and He has good things in store for you today. Because He has, you just need to find them and take them.
The Lord truly is our portion, and our hope is in Him, because He is Good!
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