Morning Gratitude and Evening Reflection on God's Faithfulness

 

Summary

In the morning and evening, we are called to praise God, reflecting on His loving kindness and faithfulness. Psalm 92 encourages us to begin our day with gratitude, acknowledging the Lord's loving kindness. The morning, with its freshness and new beginnings, is an ideal time to offer thanks for the night's rest and the new opportunities that lie ahead. Just as the morning dew refreshes the earth, our morning praise should refresh our spirits, setting a tone of gratitude and joy for the day. This time of day is not only about personal reflection but also about sharing God's goodness with others, letting our joy and gratitude be evident in our interactions.

As the day closes, we turn our attention to God's faithfulness. The evening is a time for reflection, to look back on the day and recognize how God has kept His promises. Despite the challenges and trials we may face, we can see His hand guiding and sustaining us. The night, with its calm and quiet, provides a perfect backdrop for contemplating God's unwavering faithfulness. It is a time to recount the ways He has provided, protected, and comforted us, reinforcing our trust in His promises.

Our lives, much like the cycle of day and night, are filled with moments of joy and trial. In both, we are called to praise God, acknowledging His loving kindness in the morning and His faithfulness at night. This rhythm of praise not only honors God but also strengthens our faith, reminding us of His constant presence and care.

Key Takeaways:

- Morning Praise and Gratitude: Begin each day with a heart full of gratitude, acknowledging God's loving kindness. The morning is a time of renewal, a daily resurrection that calls for fresh praise and thanksgiving. By starting the day with gratitude, we set a positive tone for the hours ahead, allowing God's love to guide our actions and interactions. [11:43]

- Evening Reflection on Faithfulness: As the day ends, reflect on God's faithfulness. The evening provides a quiet moment to look back on the day and recognize how God has fulfilled His promises. This reflection strengthens our trust in Him, reminding us that He is with us through every trial and triumph. [32:28]

- The Power of Loving Kindness: God's loving kindness is a profound theme that should fill our hearts and conversations. It is a kindness rooted in His familial love for us, demonstrated through Jesus Christ. This loving kindness is an endless source of wonder and gratitude, deserving of our daily reflection and praise. [21:39]

- Sharing God's Goodness: Our praise should not be confined to private moments but shared with others. By living joyfully and speaking of God's goodness, we become beacons of His love and faithfulness. Our lives should reflect the joy of knowing God, inviting others to experience His grace. [28:22]

- Consistency in Praise: Whether in times of prosperity or trial, our praise should remain constant. God's faithfulness is evident in every season of life, and our testimony of His goodness should be unwavering. By consistently acknowledging His work in our lives, we strengthen our faith and encourage others. [39:14]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:10] - Introduction to Psalm 92
- [00:29] - Historical Context and Reflections
- [01:42] - The Sabbath and Worship
- [02:44] - Morning and Evening Sacrifices
- [03:56] - The Joy of Praise
- [05:42] - Heartfelt Worship
- [07:01] - Preparing for Praise
- [08:28] - Morning Worship
- [11:43] - The Significance of Morning Praise
- [13:26] - Youth and Early Devotion
- [15:11] - Seasons of Life
- [18:05] - The Richness of Loving Kindness
- [21:39] - God's Familial Love
- [24:29] - Personal Testimonies of Grace
- [32:28] - Evening Reflection on Faithfulness
- [39:14] - The Testimony of God's Faithfulness

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
- Psalm 92:1-2: "It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High: To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night."

#### Observation Questions
1. What are the two specific times of day mentioned in Psalm 92:1-2 for praising God, and what attributes of God are highlighted at each time?
2. According to the sermon, why is the morning considered an ideal time for offering praise and gratitude to God? [11:43]
3. How does the sermon describe the evening as a time for reflection on God's faithfulness? [32:28]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of "loving kindness" in the morning set the tone for a believer's day according to the sermon? [11:43]
2. In what ways does reflecting on God's faithfulness at night reinforce a believer's trust in Him, as discussed in the sermon? [32:28]
3. The sermon suggests that our praise should be consistent regardless of life's circumstances. How might this consistency impact a believer's faith journey? [39:14]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your morning routine. How can you incorporate a moment of gratitude to acknowledge God's loving kindness each day? [11:43]
2. Think about your interactions throughout the day. How can you let your joy and gratitude for God's goodness be evident to others? [28:22]
3. At the end of the day, how can you create a habit of reflecting on God's faithfulness, even when facing challenges? [32:28]
4. Consider a recent trial or challenge you faced. How did you see God's hand guiding and sustaining you through it? [34:23]
5. Identify a specific way you can share God's goodness with someone this week. How can your actions or words reflect His love and faithfulness? [28:22]
6. How can you ensure that your praise remains constant, even in times of difficulty or prosperity? [39:14]
7. Reflect on the concept of "loving kindness" as described in the sermon. How can you demonstrate this attribute in your relationships with others? [21:39]

Devotional

Day 1: Morning Renewal through Gratitude
In the morning, we are invited to begin our day with a heart full of gratitude, acknowledging God's loving kindness. The freshness of the morning symbolizes new beginnings, offering us a chance to start anew with a spirit of thankfulness. This time of day is not only for personal reflection but also for sharing God's goodness with others. By starting the day with gratitude, we set a positive tone for the hours ahead, allowing God's love to guide our actions and interactions. Our morning praise should refresh our spirits, much like the morning dew refreshes the earth, setting a tone of gratitude and joy for the day. [11:43]

Psalm 5:3 (ESV): "O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch."

Reflection: What specific blessings can you thank God for this morning, and how can you let this gratitude influence your interactions today?


Day 2: Evening Reflection on God's Faithfulness
As the day comes to a close, we are encouraged to reflect on God's faithfulness. The evening provides a quiet moment to look back on the day and recognize how God has fulfilled His promises. Despite the challenges and trials we may face, we can see His hand guiding and sustaining us. This reflection strengthens our trust in Him, reminding us that He is with us through every trial and triumph. The night, with its calm and quiet, offers a perfect backdrop for contemplating God's unwavering faithfulness, reinforcing our trust in His promises. [32:28]

Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV): "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."

Reflection: As you reflect on your day, where did you see evidence of God's faithfulness, and how can this strengthen your trust in Him for tomorrow?


Day 3: The Depth of God's Loving Kindness
God's loving kindness is a profound theme that should fill our hearts and conversations. It is a kindness rooted in His familial love for us, demonstrated through Jesus Christ. This loving kindness is an endless source of wonder and gratitude, deserving of our daily reflection and praise. By meditating on His loving kindness, we are reminded of the depth of His love and the grace He extends to us each day. This reflection not only deepens our relationship with God but also inspires us to extend kindness to others. [21:39]

Micah 7:18-19 (ESV): "Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love."

Reflection: How can you reflect God's loving kindness in your actions and words today, especially towards those who may not expect it?


Day 4: Sharing the Joy of God's Goodness
Our praise should not be confined to private moments but shared with others. By living joyfully and speaking of God's goodness, we become beacons of His love and faithfulness. Our lives should reflect the joy of knowing God, inviting others to experience His grace. This outward expression of praise not only honors God but also encourages those around us to seek His presence and experience His love. [28:22]

1 Peter 2:9 (ESV): "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."

Reflection: Who in your life needs to hear about God's goodness today, and how can you share your testimony with them in a meaningful way?


Day 5: Consistency in Praise through All Seasons
Whether in times of prosperity or trial, our praise should remain constant. God's faithfulness is evident in every season of life, and our testimony of His goodness should be unwavering. By consistently acknowledging His work in our lives, we strengthen our faith and encourage others. This rhythm of praise not only honors God but also reminds us of His constant presence and care, reinforcing our trust in His promises. [39:14]

Habakkuk 3:17-18 (ESV): "Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation."

Reflection: In what area of your life do you find it challenging to maintain praise, and how can you cultivate a heart of gratitude regardless of your circumstances?

Quotes

It is a notion of the rabbis that this Psalm was sung by Adam in Paradise there are no reasons why we should believe it was so and there are a great many why we should be sure it was not for it is not possible that Adam could have sung concerning brutish men and fools and the wicked springing his grass while as yet he was the only man and himself unfallen. [00:27:30]

Though now in these our days we need no morning or evening lamb and the Very idea of a repetition or a rehearsal of the sacrifice of Christ is to us most horribly profane and blasphemous yet would we remember continually the one sacrifice and never wake in the morning without beholding the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world. [03:18:42]

Pray should be the continual exercise of Believers it is the joyful work of Heaven it should be the continual Joy of Earth and we are taught by the text I think that while praise should be given only to one who is in heaven and we should adore perpetually our Triune God yet there should be Variety in our Unity. [03:36:76]

In the morning there cannot be a more suitable time for praising God than in the morning everything around us is congenial therewith even in this Great Wilderness of brick the gleams of sunlight in these summer mornings seem like songs songs without words or rather music without sounds and Out in the Country when every blade of grass twinkles with its own drop of Dew. [09:02:64]

Every morning is a sort of Resurrection at night we lay us down to sleep stripped of our garments as our souls will be of their bodily array when we come to die but the morning wakes us and if it be a Sabbath morning we do not put on our work day clothes but find our Sabbath dress ready to hand. [10:19:74]

Our youth our first hours of the day of life ought to be spent in showing forth the loving kindness of God dear young friends you may rest assured that nothing can happen to you so blessed as to be converted while you are young I bless God for me having known him when I was 15 years of age. [13:18:83]

The first part of a Christian life has charms peculiar to itself in some respects that age is best which is the first for then the blood is warmer I know the after part is riper it is more mellow there is a sweetness about Autumn fruit but the basket of early fruit the first ripe fruit this is what God desireth. [14:02:64]

The psalmist suggests that the best topic for praise on such occasions is loving kindness and truly I confess that this is a theme which might suit nights as well as days though doubtlessly saw an appropriateness in allotting this topic to the morning verily it might suffice for all the day long was there ever such a word in any language as that word loving kindness. [17:06:50]

The loving kindness of God our Father appeared in Jesus Christ o Brethren let us always be talking about this I wonder why it is when we meet each other that we do not begin at once to say brother have you been thinking over the loving kindness of the Lord in the gift of his dear son. [22:40:40]

Now the night beloved is a peculiarly choice time for praising God's faithfulness oh says one we are very tired well that may be but it is a Pity that we should be reduced to such a condition that we are too tired to praise God a holy man of God used always to say when they said to him can you pray thank God I'm never too tired to pray. [32:45:86]

The close of the day is calm quiet and fit for devotion God Walked In the Garden in the cool of the day before man fell and Adam went forth to meet him Isaac walked in the fields at Eventide and there he received a blessing the evening is the Sabbath of the day and should be the Lord's. [33:07:53]

If you happen now to be full of joy you can tell of divine faithfulness in rendering love and mercy to you but if on the other hand you are full of trouble tell of God's faithfulness for now you have an opportunity of proving it he will not leave you he will not forsake you his word is when thou passes through the rivers I will be with thee. [37:58:52]

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Transcript
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