"Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23
I’m an early riser. Always have been. Even in college I would sign up for early classes. I’d be up at the crack of dawn, exercise, get ready, and enjoy breakfast, long before I needed to walk to my 8am class. My college roommate, who wasn’t so fond of early mornings, imposed a rule on me. I couldn’t speak to her before 8am. I think she found my morning energy a bit, well, overwhelming. Through the years, I’ve held strong to my early morning routine. It makes me feel as though I’ve made the most of each day. One of the things about morning that never gets old to me is watching the sun rise. I find it spectacular and mysterious all rolled into one. I love the different colors and even the shapes those colors can take on. When I got up to pray this morning, it was still dark. I found myself about to thank God for the sunrise and changed my words to thank Him for the sunrise I knew would be coming soon. In that moment, God took an old concept and let it fall fresh on me.
When was the last time you found yourself wondering if the sun was really going to rise today? Since our earliest memories until this very morning, our sun has been in the sky waiting to say good morning, without fail. This is so meaningful because God shows us who He is in everything He makes (Romans 1:20). The sun that rises over us faithfully every day is a perpetual reminder of the presence of God in and over our lives. I understand it might be difficult at times to know God is there if you can’t see Him in the flesh. Be encouraged because, just like the sun in the sky, God will give you so many signs and wonders if your heart is actively seeking Him. If you don’t believe me, I’d challenge you to make it a priority to start each day on your knees and spend time with Him. It never ceases to amaze me how quickly that giant ball of gas rises up into the sky. As you spend time with Him, you might be surprised how quickly He “shows up.”
Even the colors of a sunrise have a lesson for us. Sunlight is actually white. As it makes its way through the Earths atmosphere, it passes through gas molecules and drops of water, which cause the sunlight to change direction and scatter. This action is what changes the white light into different colors. Did you know pollution in the air causes those rays of light to scatter even more, making the colors of the sunrise less vibrant to our eyes? You can see the most beautiful sunrises in places like deserts and islands because pollution is minimal, and the light doesn’t scatter as much. I hope you just had the same cause for pause I did. I can’t help but think this is Gods tender way of telling us, the more pollution we have in our lives, the less visible He will be to us. I believe God meets us where we’re at, but I also believe if we continue to choose sin over Him, we will never see the vibrant colors of His love in and around us. If you’re struggling to “see” Him, try removing the things in your life that may be sinful, and I’m confident you’ll be able to have a more concentrated view of His splendor and His presence.
The picture above was taken last month, when Jim and I went on vacation to the British Virgin Islands. We were lucky enough to enjoy this beautiful place from a sailboat we chartered. I can’t tell you how happy it made my heart to get up each and every morning, sit on the bow of the boat, and watch His spectacular show. Even with the mountains in the way, it was still beautiful. Hey, that sounds like another lesson right there. We might have mountains in our view, but His faithfulness will shine through and over them. Let those who have eyes to see, see (Matthew 13:16).
"For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – His eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse." Romans 1:20
Be blessed,
C.K.