What’s the first thing you see when you wake up? Strange question?
The first things I see are generally out of focus – until I reach for my glasses. Then I try to get up quietly so I don’t wake Dave. By the time I start the coffee, my sleepy eyes are bringing my familiar surroundings into focus.
But things don’t truly sharpen until I spend some time in prayer, and in reading God’s word. For so many years, I was too busy and didn’t take time to get the Father’s perspective on my plans for the day. I didn’t realize that He wanted me to come to Him with all my problems, my insecurities, and my dreams.
Now, the first thing I do is say my I love you’s. “I love you Father, I love you Jesus, I love you Holy Spirit. Good morning.”
That’s when things really come into view properly. Acknowledging the presence of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is my foundation for the day.
I was reading in the Psalms I found a comment by King David at the end of Psalm 17.
“I am innocent, Lord, and I will see your face! When I awake, all I want is to see you as you are.” Psalm 17:15 CEV
To see You as You are!
Psalm 17 is another one of David’s psalms of praise – thanking the Lord for being his strength, his defender, his protector, his creator. How much better would our day go if we just focused physically and spiritually on seeing God as He is?
“I pray to you, God, because you will help me. Listen and answer my prayer! 7 Show your wonderful love, Your mighty arm protects those who run to you for safety from their enemies. 8 Protect me as you would your very own eyes; hide me in the shadow of your wings…Use your powerful arm and rescue me from the hands of mere humans whose world won’t last. You provide food for those you love. Their children have plenty, and their grandchildren will have more than enough. 15 I am innocent, Lord, and I will see your face!
When I awake, all I want is to see you as you are.” Psalm 17:6-8, 14-15 CEV
For many, it’s hard to trust that God will really be there for us like King David is saying. Either their focus has been distorted by self-sufficiency or it has been blurred by teaching that God is vengeful and unforgiving.
Throughout the Bible God tells us again and again that He wants to be our help, our protector, our provider, our Savior.
“So whenever we are in need, we should come bravely before the throne of our merciful God. There we will be treated with undeserved grace, and we will find help.” Hebrews 4:16 CEV
Today there are many things fighting for our attention but when we focus, set our hearts and minds to see God, our loving heavenly Father, we will see Him as He really is!