Listen to our message on your audio player.

“I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me” (Psalm 3:5).

When we were little we sprang out of bed and within seconds were ready to go full speed, then for much of our life we rolled out of bed feeling fine and ready to go within minutes. But we notice in our aging process it takes longer to get going once we are up since aches and pains are there to greet us. Now we know personally who those childhood ads for Geritol and Ben-Gay must have been targeting!

We both enjoy a cup of coffee as we prepare these messages each morning. It stimulates the wake-up zone of our brains and may even stir us up a bit. Coffee is usually ready to go before we go to bed and we just need to push the “on” button. There’s just something motivating you to get on with your day in the morning when you smell a fresh pot of coffee brewing, or as the old commercial jingo goes, “The best part of waking up is Folgers in your cup!” (Although we use Dunkin)

However we sure hope, as redeemed children of God, there are many better reasons to get up than a fresh cup of coffee! Let's consider just one reason today, "because the LORD sustains me".

David wrote Psalm 3 when his own son Absalom was pursuing him. The rebellion in David’s own home appeared to be a long-term consequence of his sexual immorality with Bathsheba. In fact the chapters following this account show the residual consequences to their act of sin.

However David had repented and again had the assurance of God’s presence. He wrote, “But You are a shield around me, O LORD; You bestow glory on me and lift up my head” (Psalm 3:3).

The part of the daily text we want to focus on this morning is a timeless truth that can be proclaimed this and every day by all of God’s people.  It certainly should be our earliest awareness as we roll out of bed. “How blessed to be sustained". Praise God for this caring aspect of God’s love and care for His own!

Today may very well bring a new set of obstacles for some of us. For others an old set of problems quickly resurfaces that we continue to deal with and overcome. David still had his problems as he wrote the Psalm. In fact he begins it with this statement, “O LORD, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me!  Many are saying of me, ‘God will not deliver him’”.

But he was aware as he awoke that the Lord had sustained him through another night. The Lord continues to grant us safety and sustain us as well, even when others paint a dismal forecast for our future. God will ultimately deliver the faithful who place their complete trust in Him (although not always in the manner we'd like to be delivered!). Let us rejoice today in God’s safety and sustaining care over all His creation and over each one of us!

Be encouraged today! Hebrews 3:13

Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources