Start Your Day with God’s Help - The Crosswalk Devotional - September 9

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Start Your Day with God’s Help
By: Whitney Hopler

Bible Reading:
“God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.” – Psalm 46:5, NIV

Shortly after I wake up each day, all the items on my schedule and to-do list for that day start swirling around in my mind. I can feel overwhelmed if I wait too long to do that one thing that prevents unnecessary stress for me each morning: pray. However, if I start my prayer devotional time within the first few minutes of waking up, I can direct my attention beyond my responsibilities to the One who will help me manage them. It only takes a brief time of connecting with God intentionally to start to notice God’s presence with me. As soon as I focus on enjoying God’s presence, I receive his peace. That gives me the confidence that I won’t fall – no matter how much I have to do during the day ahead – because God will be walking through the day with me. God will be there to give me whatever I need, for whatever situations I face, so I can’t fall as long as I’m relying on God’s help. 

September mornings can be especially busy, since many people move into a faster pace at work, school, and church after the slower summer season. The new responsibilities can feel heavy. Psalm 46:5 assures you that no matter how crowded your calendar becomes, you don’t have to handle it alone. When you invite God into your mornings, you can begin your busy days with the reassurance that God will be there to help you with all you have to do. 

Each morning is a fresh opportunity to walk in faith by trusting God to help you with whatever you need. You may wake up feeling overwhelmed by your to-do list, burdened by yesterday’s struggles, or anxious about what your new day may hold. But God promises to be right there with you, to keep you from falling. God’s help is available at the break of every new day! 

The way you start each morning affects your ability to handle whatever comes your way. When it says “God is within her,” Psalm 46:5 reminds you that God is within you through his Holy Spirit, and because of God’s presence right there with you, you won’t fall, no matter what happens during your day. The promise “she will not fall” reminds you of God’s unlimited power. You may stumble, but you won’t fall down into despair. You’ll face challenges during your day, but with God at your side, you’ll be able to overcome them. God will hold you steady and give you the grace you need for every situation in your day. 

You may sometimes feel like God’s help is slow to come. You may wonder why certain prayers seem unanswered or why some burdens feel heavier than others. But Psalm 46:5 reassures you that God’s help comes at the perfect time – at the break of every day. Just as the sun rises every day reliably, God shows up for you every day, as well. 

So, start each day by communicating with God before doing anything else. Thank God for the opportunity to be part of the new day, and pray about everything that concerns you so you can let go of your worries and start relying on God to help you with what you need for your day. Then choose a Bible verse or passage to read, and let it shape your mindset for the day by meditating on it and asking the Holy Spirit to help you apply it to your life. Finally, declare God’s truths over your day by speaking them out loud. You may want to personalize a Bible verse and say it, or just say a sentence or phrase that boosts your faith, such as: “God is with me and God will help me throughout this day.” 

As you start each new morning, remember that God is already there, waiting to help you at the break of day. Let God help you walk through your day in peace and confidence!

Intersecting Faith & Life:

As you consider how to start your day with God’s help, reflect on these questions: 

What distractions do you usually have when you wake up, and what would help you focus on God instead when your day first starts?

How can starting your day with prayer and meditation change the way you handle your responsibilities during the day? 

In what areas of your life do you most need to remember that “God is within you” today? 

How do busy seasons, like September, affect how much you rely on God?

What’s one change you can make now to start every single morning with God and rely more on God’s help throughout your day? 

Further Reading
Lamentations 3:22-23
Psalm 5:3
Matthew 6:33
Isaiah 41:10
Proverbs 16:3

Photo Credit: ©SparrowStock 

Whitney Hopler helps people discover God's wonder and experience awe. She is the author of several books, including the nonfiction books Wake Up to Wonder and Wonder Through the Year: A Daily Devotional for Every Year, and the young adult novel Dream Factory. Whitney has served as an editor at leading media organizations, including Crosswalk.com, The Salvation Army USA’s national publications, and Dotdash.com (where she produced a popular channel on angels and miracles). She currently leads the communications work at George Mason University’s Center for the Advancement of Well-Being. Connect with Whitney on her website at www.whitneyhopler.com and on her Facebook author page.

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