First in the Morning, Last at Night

by Thomas Miles
Published January 13, 2006

Good morning...I love you...How are you today? Are these phrases that you truly mean when you say them, or do you just say them out of habit?

How many times have you said those words? How about Good night! How many times have you said those words? Or these: Good morning, you sure look good today. How are you feeling this morning? Good night, I love you and I'm so glad you are mine. Do you say things like this to loved ones? I'm sure we all do. But what about to the one that loves you the most, the one that gave you life, the one that created you... do you say those words or similar ones to HIM? And most importantly when you say them do you mean them?

“First in the morning, last at night” have you ever heard that phrase? I like to make sure the first thing I do upon waking is give thanksgiving to God with joy. I like to start my morning with words like this: 'Good morning Father, I sure love You. I'm so glad You love me, thank You for giving me another day to love, worship and praise You. Thank You for giving Your Son Jesus to give me everlasting life and healing. I believe today will be a glorious day. Thank You Father for giving me a wonderful day today. Today will be a fantastic day in Jesus name.' And then I'll just lay there for a bit and think on Him. And I can sense in my spirit His Spirit telling me how much He loves me and cares for me. I used to wake with words like this: 'Oh my aching back, oh man my head hurts, my stomach hurts, lord this is gonna be a rotten day. Oh man why did I wake up, I'm so stinking tired, life is rotten.' And you know what; my day pretty much followed the words of my morning thoughts and speech.

So, I began to change them. I began to change the way I woke up and I began to change the way I went to bed. “First in the morning and last thing at night!” I began to say the things at bedtime that I wanted for morning. When I went to bed, I made sure that the very last thoughts on my mind were of God. I speak to God every night before sleep and I say things like this: 'Father I thank You for giving me a wonderful night of sleep. I thank You for allowing me to wake rested, refreshed and free from pains and fears. I thank You Father for taking control of the things that I will have to face in the morning and through the course of my day and I thank You Father for being so loving and so caring to me and my family.' And then I just lay there praising Him until I fall asleep.

Now this is not something you just do overnight, it will take time and dedication. It will and can happen for you though if you desire it in your heart. It will make a difference in your life. And if you let your first in the morning last in the evening spill over to the rest of your day it will make it that much easier.

I found myself stopping during thoughts or sentences and saying, "NO! I don't talk this way anymore, I don't want that so I'm not confessing it." I began saying things like that and asking God to keep a watch on my mouth so only good things would come forth and He has honored that and prompts me each time something that is not good begins to leave my lips. First in the morning, last at night! Is that your way of life? It can be and it will change your way of life for the better.

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