Satisfy Us in the Morning

Steven Dilla post:  Morning Rhythms | Park Forum

Psalm 90.14Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. 

A recent study reveals it takes 90 minutes for the average Londoner to transition from bed to walking out the door each morning. The average resident of Shanghai invests just 9 minutes grooming for the day, while two thirds of Parisian women apply makeup and perfume each day.

On the other hand, only fifty six percent of New Yorkers shower each day (rush hour subway, anyone?). For those who do, showering and grooming averages 30 minutes each morning.

Few people practice ideal morning rhythms. Looking at New Yorkers alone, 59% say it’s important to exercise in the morning — just 16% do. For those with children, 77% say morning playtime is important — only 21% engage in it. 

The number one place for New Yorkers to self-reflect is the shower (let’s face it, it’s the only place we’re consistently alone), but stress, problem solving, and scheduling too easily consume reflection time. If we’re honest it’s far too easy to invest a disproportionate amount of time in the morning focusing only on ourselves.

Psalm 90.14 records a simple and beautiful prayer, “Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love.” The Psalmist longed for a joy that would be present in the good and bad of life. He knew this kind of transcendent joy could be found in one source alone: satisfaction in the love of God — every morning. 

Scripture reading, prayer, and reflection on the character and nature of God each morning is time well invested. Morning rhythms rooted in Christ move us beyond ourselves opening up time to pray for people who may not have anyone else praying for them, and centering our lives on the only source that delivers what we need most.

PrayerGod, satisfy us with your love — let us long for nothing else, as you are what we need the most each day; may everything in our life be what you want. Provide what we truly need today. Give us your wonderful grace and allow us to extend that grace to those who hurt us. Lead us in your ways, God, and remove evil from our heart, mind, and life.