I awoke today with words in my mind and heart. They are not new – there is not much new in this world of ours that God has not witnessed before from the peoples of his creation. Perhaps it is my trepidation over the situation in Ukraine that brought them to the fore today. The actions of a leader like Vladimir Putin are not new to our God. For many centuries our God has watched humankind hunger and covet lands and peoples that do not belong to them due to greed and quest for power. All of the situations we find ourselves in that bring us worry, doubt and fear are not new to our God. 

This was my comfort as I opened my eyes and thought my first thought of the new day this morning. 

“This is the day the Lord hath made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

God has set a new day before us. 

I am encouraged to go forth and be his child in it following the ways taught to me. 

I know the ways God has shone me deep in my heart – they are not ways that are new to this world, though perhaps many do not hear or follow. 

That does not mean that I should or shall ignore what I have been taught. 

No. I shall embrace it even more and shine my light with God’s courage and not tremble though timid I may be. 

God is my rock and refuge for all time. 

Let us go out to serve together with our hearts joined in God in his new day. 

I ask. What better way is there to use our days?

There is no better way. For we already know the alpha and the omega. 

Dear God,

Take us out into this day, do not let us pull the covers of night over our heads in this your morning. Open our eyes and let your light shine out from us. Let us serve in your name in the unique ways you have gifted each of us. Help us move forward even as we may be held down by hurt, anger, doubt, sorrow, jealousy, pain, anxiety, depression, regret or any emotion or heavy weight that works in us. We know you have seen it before in other travelers in your name. Your heart understands our hearts. 

We call out to you and we ask that you will respond with strength for each of us and our lives lived in you. Thank you for each new day you set before us, your children, that we may go out with you as our ever companion to serve others. Blessed be your name! Amen. 

~Shauna Weil