Psalm 143:8

Over 40 years ago a friend said, “Let’s write a song.” She suggested a verse from Psalm 143, and we were off and running.

We wrote “In Thee Do I Trust” at a time when I was rapidly transitioning from just going to church to learning how to live with God at the center my life. They were happy, exciting times. I think the song reflects the joy and enthusiasm I felt then. After all these years, the joy and enthusiasm persists, I still love that Psalm, and still love the song! Please give it a listen, then come back here and let me say a little more about it.

Put habits to work

Our song begins with this prayer of the psalmist “Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning …” Isn’t that a wonderful thing to ask of God? Wouldn’t we rather start each day with a cheerful, “Good morning, Lord!” than a pained cry of, “Good Lord, it’s morning!”?

We can pray for the same thing — for God to partner with us to get our days started with Him. God is faithful. If we will “show up” every morning, He will show us His loving kindness. How? One of the best ways is to set aside time each morning to read God’s Word and pray.

Most things worth getting good at require steady work over a long time. We can develop good habits that will serve us. One of the best habits we can develop is to start our days with Him. It is up to you and Him how much time to spend. Five minutes would be lots better than no time at all. You might find a half hour would be delicious. You figure it out. The time will get used one way or another. Let’s give God — and ourselves — enough time to hear His loving kindness — and even, as the Psalm and song go, we can spend enough time to “know the way wherein [we] should walk”. As we do this, we find our trust in Him grows, and all the more we will be lifting our souls unto him.

So much more in this Psalm

Where would we be without the Psalms?!? They thrill and bless and feed us at every phase of our lives as we continue to grow and get to know God.

When we read Psalm 143, we see a lot going on in the psalmist’s life. Our song pulls one verse out and helps us remember it. But read the whole Psalm and see how much richer our one verse becomes when we see “the rest of the story.”

Psalm 143

1 Hear my prayer, O Lord, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness.
2 And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.
3 For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead.
4 Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate.
5 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.
6 I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.
7 Hear me speedily, O Lord: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.
8 Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.
9 Deliver me, O Lord, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me.
10 Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.
11 Quicken me, O Lord, for thy name’s sake: for thy righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.
12 And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant.

Good morning(s)

Let’s start our days with God! The Psalms are a great place to read to connect with God’s thoughts and help us learn prayer and praise — and even to learn wherein we should walk.

Lots to read, lots to learn, lots of blessings to receive and share. Let’s not let another morning go by without getting in on all that joy!

God bless you lots!
-Dale

LYRICS: In Thee Do I Trust
Song by Anne Stoutenburgh Mason and Dale Reichel

Refrain:
Cause me to hear thy loving kindness in the morning
In thee do I trust, in thee do I trust
Cause me to know the way where in I should walk
And I lift up my soul unto thee

1. Sometimes I was happy, sometimes I was sad
Flipping in and out of ev’ry boogie trippin’ fad
Sometimes high and sometimes low,
I never knew which way to go
But now I know you’re the one to follow so…
[Refrain]

Bridge:
In thee do I trust, in thee do I trust
For ev’ryone that’s ever come along
You’re the only one that’s never done me wrong
Cause me to hear your loving kindness in the morning
In thee do I trust

2. From darkness all around me, You drew me into light
Healed my heart and set me free and clothed me with your might
Your word is now my guidance and I know just where to go
Yes I know, you’re the one to follow, so…

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