I’ve written before that I find Lamentation 3:22-23 to be one of the passages of scripture that most inspires me:
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases,
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning. [NRSV]
One of the striking things about this passage is the affirmation that God’s love and forgiveness are always there, that they continually reassert themselves so that we never need worry about their being absent. For the ancient Israelites, who did not have our modern concept of the laws of physics or the make up of the cosmos, the mere fact that the sun was rising again was proof positive that God was still there and was still devoted to fulfilling the divine duties of the covenant. What a wonderful affirmation.
At the same time, the affirmation of God’s daily renewal of love and mercy evokes a similar responsibility on us. We, too, are called to reaffirm our desire to follow God’s call and to live out God’s mission here on earth on a daily basis. This allows us not only to talk to God but also to listen for what God is calling us to do that particular day.
Obviously there are a number of different levels that folks might feel called to in fulfilling this commitment, whether it is a five-minute (or longer) morning devotional, an hour devoted to prayer, or an even more stringent program of prayer and meditation.
Finding time in our personal routine for this daily commitment is not easy. There’s a reason it’s called a daily “discipline.” Personally, I find this more difficult than I like to admit. I normally dedicate myself to a strict practice during Advent and Lent, but find myself falling away once the season in question is over and my daily routine starts “intruding.” Still, when I do take the time, it’s always a blessing.
If you’d like, please share the ways that you “find time” to offer yourself daily to God.