Praise the Lord! Praise, O servants of the Lord; praise the name of the Lord. Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time on and forevermore. From the rising of the sun to its setting the name of the Lord is to be praised. The Lord is high above all nations and his glory above the heavens.

- Psalms 113:1-4

How do you start each day? What do you do to ensure that, before you go back out into the chaotic world, your mind is centered on Jesus Christ?  

I have listened to a lot of Billy Graham’s sermons over the years courtesy of YouTube. I recall him saying in one that he had a habit of starting each day by reading and meditating on five Psalms, progressing through the book every 30 days.

I recently heard a woman speaking on the radio describe how she starts each day by reciting Psalm 113:3. When she wakes, before her feet touch the floor, she proclaims, “From the rising of the sun to its setting the name of the Lord is to be praised.” By doing this she sets her mind on Jesus Christ, her Lord and Savior, before doing anything else.

I need to remind myself each morning and throughout each day who God is because when I focus on His identity, praise and worship arise, and as my heart is filled with awe, wonder and praise I am reminded of His promises, and this combination provides the foundation for the day. He is indeed the holy, pure, divine, creator of all things. He has all power and authority in heaven and on earth, and He really does know everything about me. He knows my needs and desires. He is love and He really does love me, and He hears my prayers and He responds. We are each created in His glorious image, and through Jesus Christ we are the Father’s children, adopted as heirs and redeemed, saved and freed. His Holy Spirit dwells within us, strengthening us, empowering us, convicting us.

Praise His holy name! He is holy, holy, holy, Lord God almighty! “From the rising of the sun to its setting the name of the Lord is to be praised.”

God is faithful. He is constant. His love does not change. And our praise of Him should be constant as well. Regardless of what is going on in your life, regardless of the trials, pain, suffering and hardship you are facing, praise His holy name, continue to seek Him, continue to worship Him, continue to commune with Him in prayer. We continue to praise God because He continues to be God, regardless of our situation, so I do not say what I am about to say as if it is a bargain or a transaction being negotiated, it is not, but when we genuinely seek Him, when we genuinely offer Him our praise and worship, when we sincerely commune with Him, our burdens become lighter and our life improves as a result of the increase of His holy presence within us.  

We are created in His holy image. May our faithfulness mirror His.