From the very moment we open our eyes in the morning the world cries out for our time and attention. Work, housework, exercise, yard work, appointments, shopping, errands to run, kids crying for attention, on and on it goes. Where do we get the energy? How do we keep everything together and going in the right direction? From where do we get our guidance? How do we answer life’s questions which inevitably face us as we move through our day? I suggest before you do anything take time every morning to look up. Yes, look up to God and seek His face before doing anything else to start your day.
The place to seek God and hear from Him is in His Word the Bible and I suggest following this simple plan by reading the book of Psalms to start your day. The Psalms have been referred to as the hymn book of the Bible or better yet the “Him” book. The Psalms are right about in the middle of your Bible and there are 150 chapters but I don’t suggest you read all 150 each day.

So here’s a plan I heard years ago at a Bill Gothard seminar which breaks it down into daily 15 minute installments. Start with reading the chapter for the day of the month you are in. For example today is the 12th so today I started with reading chapter 12 and then I added 30 and read that chapter, plus 30 and read that chapter, plus 30 and so on until I reached the end of the book and had read 5 Psalms, chapters 12, 42, 72, 102 & 132. By following this plan in a months time (with 30 days) you will have read the entire book! One side note, save Psalm 119 for months with 31 days since that Psalm is huge and just read that one chapter on the 31st of the month.

Why the Psalms? You see, the writers of the Psalms, many which were written by King David of Israel, also Asaph a worship leader and even some by Moses, were written from a human perspective about trials, circumstances, emotions and burdens that the writers were going through. Many call out to God with questions that we might even have today. Many are filled with praise in days when we need to get the focus off of ourselves and toward God. Many have answers and can encourage us in our deepest valleys. Many contain God’s answers that will match the very questions and circumstances you are facing and many will reach into your very soul and you will experience God’s presence! The Psalmist cried out in Chp 63 “O God Thou art my God early will I seek Thee, my soul longs for Thee….”.

So tomorrow get up 15 minutes earlier, find a quiet place, pray “O God open my eyes to behold wonderful things in Thy law” then dig into the Psalms and search for “Him” and don’t forget “Plus 30”!