The First Thing Every Morning and The Last Thing Every Night

THE FIRST THING EVERY MORNING
AND THE LAST THING EVERY NIGHT...

by HELEN STEINER RICE



WERE YOU TO BUSY THIS MORNING
TO QUIETLY STOP AND PRAY
DID YOU HURRY AND DRINK YOUR COFFEE
THEN FRANTICALLY RUSH AWAY?
CONSOLING YOURSELF BY SAYING,
"GOD WILL ALWAYS BE THERE
WAITING TO HEAR MY PETITIONS
READY TO ANSWER EACH PRAYER"
IT'S TRUE THE GREAT GENEROUS SAVIOUR
FORGIVES OUR TRANSGRESSIONS EACH DAY
AND PATIENTLY WAITS FOR "LOST SHEEP"
WHO CONSTANTLY SEEM TO STRAY-
BUT MOMENTS OF PRAYER ONCE OMITTED
IN THE BUSY RUSH OF THE DAY
CAN NEVER AGAIN BE RECAPTURED
FOR THEY SILENTLY SLIP AWAY.
AND WE NEVER GET BACK THE FRESHNESS
THAT WAS WRAPPED IN THE MORNING PRAYER
THAT WE WERE UNABLE TO OFFER
BECAUSE THERE WAS NO TIME TO SPARE
AND NO ONE REGAINS THAT BLESSING
THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THEIRS IF THEY PRAYED
FOR BLESSINGS ARE LOST FOREVER
IN PRAYERS THAT ARE OFTEN DELAYED
AND STRENGTH IS GAINED IN THE MORNING
TO ENDURE THE TRIALS OF THE DAY
WHEN WE "VISIT WITH GOD IN PERSON"
IN A QUIET AND UNHURRIED WAY.
FOR ONLY THROUGH PRAYER THAT'S UNHURRIED
CAN THE NEEDS OF THE DAY BE MET
AND ONLY IN PRAYERS SAID AT EVENING
CAN WE SLEEP WITHOUT FEAR OR REGRET
FOR ALL OF OUR ERRORS AND FAILURES
THAT WE MADE IN THE COURSE OF THE DAY
ARE FREELY FORGIVEN EACH NIGHTTIME
WHEN WE KNEEL DOWN AND EARNESTLY PRAY
FOR PRAYER IS A TIME OF REFRESHMENT
WHICH NO ONE SHOULD EVER OMIT
FOR OUR LIVES ARE STRENGTHENED AND LENGTHENED
AND MADE MORE USEFUL BY "IT"
SO SEEK THE LORD IN THE MORNING
AND NEVER FORGET HIM AT NIGHT
FOR PRAYER IS AN UNFAILING BLESSING
THAT MAKES EVERY BURDEN SEEM LIGHT.







WHEN DARKNESS OVERTAKES HIM,
LIGHT WILL COME BURSTING IN.
HE IS KIND AND MERCIFUL.



PSALM 112:4
TLB



HEAR MY CRY FOR MERCY AS I CALL TO YOU FOR HELP,
AS I LIFT UP MY HANDS TOWARD YOUR MOST HOLY PLACE.



PSALM 28:2
NIV



THE LORD IS JUST IN ALL HIS WAYS,
AND KIND IN ALL HIS DOINGS.



PSALM 145:17
NRSV



SURELY GOODNESS AND MERCY SHALL FOLLOW ME
ALL THE DAYS OF MY LIFE: AND I WILL DWELL IN
THE HOUSE OF THE LORD FOR EVER.



PSALM 23:6
KJV



LORD, REMEMBER ME WHEN YOU ARE
KIND TO YOUR PEOPLE;
HELP ME WHEN YOU SAVE THEM.



PSALM 106:4
NCV



THE LORD SAYS, "I WILL MAKE YOU WISE
AND SHOW YOU WHERE TO GO.
I WILL GUIDE YOU AND WATCH OVER YOU."



PSALM 32:8
NCV



AND I SHALL LIVE BEFORE THE LORD FOREVER.
OH, SEND YOUR LOVINGKINDNESS AND TRUTH
TO GUARD AND WATCH OVER ME.



PSALM 61:7
TLB



THE LORD KEEPS WATCH OVER YOU AS
YOU COME AND GO, BOTH NOW AND FOREVER.



PSALM 121:8
NLT



TEACH US TO NUMBER EACH OF OUR DAYS
SO THAT WE MAY GROW IN WISDOM.



PSALM 90:12
GOD'S WORD