Even if you’re not a morning person, early is the time to praise God
By Dean Collins
Psalm 92 says, “It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praise to your name.” And in the very next verse, the psalmist tells us to bring these songs of praise in the morning with full instruments like the lute, harp, and lyre. A morning praise band with singing!
As I read that verse, some old memories stirred from the many times in my teens and into my 30s I was a worship leader at various events, many of them in the morning. Maybe your mood and voice are different than mine, but singing in the early hours of the morning is not my favorite thing. I am a full-on morning person and have been all my life. But to get up and grab the guitar and sing is not included in my morning routine. But as a worship leader, I often did it and almost always with a mostly reluctant audience who would rather be drinking coffee while they wake up than being asked to sing along with me.
Remembering worship
But as I recalled the many times I have been the leader or even the participant in early morning worship, I could not recall one single time I felt worse after doing it. I may not have had a full voice or enthusiasm when I began a session of early morning worship, but I never felt bad afterward. In fact, I cannot recall a single time in my life that after singing songs of praise and offering God my worship I ever regretted doing it. Every time we worship God offers back to us moments of release, peace, and joy.
There are definitely times when fatigue, stress, illness, or challenging relationships leave us not feeling much like worshiping, yet time and time again I have experienced God meeting me in my pain and bringing healing to both mind and spirit when I offer him praise.
Learning from God about worship
The psalmist helps us understand why worship changes us. First, we are reminded that it is good to give thanks to the Lord. First Thessalonians 5:18 tells us that we are to give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for us. Many times we may wonder what God’s will is for us. Sometimes we pray long, seek advice from trusted friends, and wait to discover God’s will. But Scripture seems pretty clear that one aspect of God’s will for each of us is to give thanks to him always.
The second thing the psalmist teaches us is that our praise to God is because of his steadfast love in the morning and his faithfulness by night. Jeremiah, the weeping prophet, declared, “The steadfast love of the Lord . . . [is] new every morning.” God’s steadfast love is not just leftovers from the past. God renews his love for each of us and for his creation every day. And David reminds us in Psalm 4 that because of God’s faithfulness, we can sleep in peace when we go to bed. He offers his steadfast love when we wake and allows us to sleep in peace because he is faithful to us even through the night.
Finally, the psalmist reminds us that we offer praise because God brings us joy through his work. Verse 4 declares, “For you, O Lord, have made me glad by the work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy.” God is never idle, even though we may not see all of his activity. By his hands we are held, we are lifted up, we are healed, we are protected, and we are saved. The outstretched hands of our Savior Jesus bring life to us daily and completely.
So whether you are reluctant, tired, discouraged, or stressed, today is a good day to lift your voice to God and praise him for who he is and for all he has done for you.
Father, forgive us when we hesitate to offer you praise and make excuses for not bringing ourselves to you in worship. Thank you for your steadfast love that is new each morning. Today we choose to worship you in spirit and in truth. We love and adore you. We praise your name! We acknowledge you as King of kings and Lord of lords now and forevermore. Thank you for your faithfulness to us. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Your time with God’s Word
Psalm 92:1-4; 1 Thessalonians 5:18 ESV
Photo by David Libeert on Unsplash
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