new mercies

 Wednesday, July 8, 2026 (4:50 a.m.)

Awesome, Holy God,

Thank You!

Sometimes it takes me longer than others to get there. Yet here I finally am. Thanking You. Praising You. Singing. Smiling. Hoping. And yes, after several hours of resisting, ready to be truly awake.

Some early hours are easier than others. Thank You that Your mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:23).

Perhaps that could become my waking thought each day. Instead of longing for more sleep, I'd bound out of bed. Eagerly searching to find Your new mercies that await us.

Yes!

New mercies described on the internet as “fresh forgiveness, grace, and compassion that God provides each day… every sunrise offers a clean slate and the strength needed for the present moment.”

Lord God, thank You!

Ephesians 1:10

(6:10 a.m.)

♪… I Trust In God, my Savior

The One who will never fail

He will never fail

Perfect submission, all is at rest

I know the Author of tomorrow has ordered my steps♪

Lord, thank You for the various ways You sing deep into my soul. Reading Your Word and songs come straight out. Thank You.

What would it be like Dear Lord, if I were truly to approach today as though I believe my steps are already ordered? To just take each challenge, obstacle and reward as it comes.

I’d like to attempt that trust today.

(6:29 a.m.)

Oh, most Holy God. You just keep Your Truth singing to me! Right now. Completely unexpected. A way I want to greet each morning. Singing joyfully to You!

♪Birds flying high, You know how I feel

Sun in the sky, You know how I feel

Breeze driftin’ on by, You know how I feel

It’s a new dawn, it’s a new day

It’s a new life for me, yeah…

And I’m Feeling Good♪

Yes Father! I want to greet each new day feeling good. Do all You must in making my first thoughts in the morning those of joyous thanksgiving rather than desperate pleas for more sleep.

I love, need, trust and want You as my Portion; my cup of blessing (Psalm 16:5). “You will show me the way of life, granting me the [full] joy of Your presence and the pleasures of living with You forever” (v. 11). Yes. Yes. Oh, yes!

♪Day and night, night and day, let incense arise…♪

(Worthy of It all)

Yes! Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(412 words ~ 7:01 a.m.)

right here, right now

 Tuesday, July 7, 2026 (4:47 a.m.)

Good early morning Lord,

I’m confessing to You right here, right now the “Thank You”s have been few and far between so far. Oh, but even in saying that, there came a smile. And a wonder.

Looking at the date in its numerical form I saw “7/7” and wondered, what may I have been doing on 7/7/77? That’s quite a few forward slants right there.

Things were much different then. I didn’t know You very well. Thank You for the freedom that allows me to give You every single one of my thoughts.

Thinking. Looking. Wondering. Smiling. Knowing. Trusting. Believing. Hoping. You provide us these possibilities.

♪It is well with my soul

It is well with my soul

Whatever my lot

You are still my God

It is well

 It is well with my soul♪

(Make It Well)

 (5:11 a.m.)

Father, I realize my thoughts are all over the place. Running unchecked from one thing to another. Thank You that at any given moment one Bible verse (2 Corinthians 10:5) is replacing another (Philippians 4:13).

Just as quickly as one line of thinking comes in there’s another right behind. Almost screaming, “Hey! Look at me. Pay attention over here.” That’s why I want to bring it all to You. Asking (Matthew 7:7) You to sort it all out for me. “You do it!”

(5:57 a.m.)

And there You did. Again!

Thank You Father. As I rambled and roamed, You reminded me of 1 Corinthians 14:40 and the importance to “Let all things be done decently and in order.”

Lord, I confess the random disorder with which I have been approaching most days. Thank You for causing me to remember the Truth of Philippians 4:13. “I can do ALL things through Christ who gives me strength!”

Thank You that decades ago You provided me with a list of how You would have me live each day. All backed with Bible verses to match.

“Fear not!

Show Love

Respect

Listen

Obey

Speak Truth

Confess

Forgive

Say Thanks

But, first of all,

PRAY!!!!!!!”

And just when I was beginning to think my thoughts couldn’t be any farther from You and all You have for me… another TRUTH came to light!

My fascination with the sevens in today’s date. I suddenly remembered the number 7 as being biblically significant. “…the primary symbol for divine perfection, completeness, and covenant faithfulness.”

Getting to take the significance of sevens one click further, I find Proverbs 24:16. We may fall seven times out of weakness of our own character or willpower.

But You, being perfectly You, will continue Your good work in each of us “until it is finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns” (Philippians 1:6).

Yep! You are pretty darned amazing God. Thank You that You are.

Do all You must that I come to worship, adore, glorify and enJOY You exactly as You know is best. I love, need, trust and want You as absolute Lord of my life. Use me in representing You well. Thank You. Praise You.

(470 words ~ 6:21 a.m.)

wonder

 Monday, July 6, 20026 (5:18 a.m.)

Blessed God,

Thank You! Mm, yes. Thank You for a smile. A gentle thought. Good coffee. Joy. Peace. And wonder.

Yes, Father. Thank You for wonder. I would like to spend today exploring the wonder of it all.

And right here sings the song

♪You are Worthy of It All 

You are worthy of it all, Jesus

For from You are all things

And to You are all things

You deserve the glory♪

Indeed! You deserve the glory!

(5:37 a.m.)

Father, I have very little to add.

Thank You for such easy access to the lyrics and Biblical references of this song.

Revelation 4 and 5

Romans 11:[33-]36

Malachi 1:11

♪Day and night, night and day

Let incense♪

How wondrous for me that the prayers of Your people are described as incense to You. I ask Dear Lord, “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to You, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer” (Psalm 19:14).

Yes, please. Do all You must in, with, by, through and for me that You will be truly glorified. I love, need, trust and want You Blessed God. Use me as You alone know is best. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(218 words ~ 5:52 a.m.)

divinely privileged

 Sunday, July 5, 2026 (4:30 a.m.)

Blessed God,

Thank You for the privilege of waking up singing.

(4:50 a.m.)

This definitely took a turn from where we started! The word privilege didn’t sit quite well with me. Yet in this particular case, singing and smiling upon awakening IS “an unexpected good fortune or benefit.”

Holy God, I confess to You how very often I take my blessings and good fortune for granted. Never intentionally, mind You.

(5:06 a.m.)

And here I get [am privileged] to go deeper. Yes! 

(5:25 a.m.)

Reading that the two greatest privileges we have are to know and love You, I pause to wonder… isn’t the grandest privilege we have actually being ♪fully KNOWN and loved by You♪?

(5:48 a.m.)

Here again I am reminded of just how truly privileged I am!

Taking some time to look up the song with which I awoke, I knew some of the lyrics but not the title. I even remembered it was by MercyMe.

Thank You Father for making me aware that it really IS well with my soul!

(6:33 a.m.)

♪It is well with my soul

It is well with my soul

Whatever my lot

You are still my God

It is well

It is well with my soul♪ 

(Make It Well)

(6:37 a.m.)

Having this privilege. This advantage. This desire to bring all my thoughts to You is indeed an honor I don’t take lightly.

Being able to readily find lyrics, scripture verses (Psalms 34 and 139; Ezekiel 36:17-27; 1 Corinthians 8:3) and more songs (Trust in God; Known) I am truly, profoundly, divinely privileged.

(6:58 a.m.)

Father, empower and enable me in using this privilege wisely. And well.

I love, need, trust and want You as the ultimate Provider of all. Do all You must that I worship, adore, glorify and enjoy You as You so rightly deserve. Thank You. Praise You. To You be the glory! Amen.

(343 words ~ 7:01 a.m.)

ERN

 Saturday, July 4, 2026 (4:17 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You. For so many things.

(4:36 a.m.)

At this moment I’m especially grateful for the grace You provide.

(4:39 a.m.)

And just like that [SNAP!] I’m entering into one of the best “choose your own ending” books ever written. Your Word. Your Truth. Your promises.

Father, thank You!

I came here initially to thank You for the mistakes I’ve already made this morning. Completely brewing my half a cup of coffee without any water being the biggest so far.

Thank You for the different ways You would have us look at mistakes. Faux pas. Errors. Learning experiences. Springboards.

(5:06 a.m.)

Father God, You are freeing me from the stigma with which I was raised. Avoiding mistakes at all costs. Now I get to learn the benefits of making them!

Error-Related Negativity (ERN) signals our brains to pay attention. Remain alert. Adjust future behavior. Yes! Father, thank You for teaching me new responses to old patterns.

Another meaning of ERN involves You. Everyday Relationship Needs. With this approach we able to surrender to Your control. Seek Your guidance. And allow Your love to hold us through life’s unexpected turns (internet search overview).

Ephesians 3:14-21

♪Worthy of It All♪

(Romans 11:33-36)

(5:56 a.m.)

You never cease to amaze me Lord! 

Thank You for the various stages of color in the sky just now. Oranges. Blacks and whites. Then pinks. Gorgeous! Truly photo worthy.

Thank You for the joy that comes in appreciating the simplest things. Being able to thank You for the mistakes of yesterday and today. Asking (Matthew 7:7) that I learn valuable lessons from every single error I encounter.

(6:12 a.m.)

Father God, I love, need, trust and want to represent You well. Embracing and learning from each false step I may take.

You are good, great, glorious and gracious (Psalm 145:5-8). I want to resemble You. Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(261 words ~ 6:18 a.m.)

embracing languishment

 Friday, July 3, 2026 (4:32 a.m.)

Good morning Lord,

(4:46 a.m.)

Here it is! My first genuine, “Thank You!” of the day.

I tried a couple of fake ones earlier. Even refused manufacturing a few. This one comes on the heels of finding words that describe my feelings at the moment.

Neither happy nor sad. A neutral state. Emotionally flat. Numb. “Meh”. Languishing. Uninterested. Incurious.

Thank You Father that I am not alone in my feelings. Thank You that others have felt them. And they are not fatal.

Lament is too strong of a word. But languishing describes it well. A feeling of pensive sadness.

What’s even better than the description, is the fact that I don’t have to try to fix it. Or change it. Or make it go away. I can choose to embrace it. Bring it with me into Your presence. And ask (Matthew 7:7) You what You would have me do with this languishment.

(5:20 a.m.)

Father, thank You for teaching me to ride the waves of my emotions. Not to judge them. Nor the people I would normally point to as having caused them. 

YOU are good regardless (Psalm 145:7). Great (v. 6). Glorious (5). And gracious (8). Thank You that You are.

(5:33 a.m.)

Thank You that we have Your Word. To which we can turn. And cling.

Yes, Father. Thank You that Your Truth never changes. It provides us the hope that proves to be an anchor for our souls (Hebrews 6:19). Thank You. Thank You. Thank You.

(5:49 a.m.)

Thank You again Dear Lord that we are able to bring every thought (2 Corinthians 10:5b) and feeling straight to You. No questions asked. Just come. Right into Your presence with thanksgiving in our hearts. Trusting. Believing. Depending on Your Word to stand true.

Use me today. Exactly as You know is best. Smiling [as I am now]. Singing [whenever it comes]. Standing firm in and on Your Word. And staying my mind on Your Truth and promises.

I love, need, trust and want You, Lord. “Oh! Teach us to live well! Teach us to live wisely and well!” (Psalm 90:12 The Message). Yes! Thank You. Praise You. Amen.

(376 words ~ 5:59 a.m.)