Psalm 143:8 Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,
    for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go,
    for to you I entrust my life.

Many of David’s Psalms seem to have been written as part of his morning devotions, but this one seems like it might have been at night, looking forward to God meeting with him the next morning. English translations tend to say “unfailing love” or “steadfast love” here, but the Japanese says “grace.” The Japanese word for grace has strong overtones of blessing, and is often used explicitly with that meaning, so the whole business of going between languages can get complicated! Whatever the terminology, David knew that he could expect good things from God, and he needed a pick-me-up. We can have the same assurance as we pray, but like David in the first verses of this Psalm, we need to realize that we are dependent on God’s mercy, because we can’t stand in our own righteousness. Humility before God is essential! However, if we have that, trusting in God as David did, we can indeed expect good things from God, because He delights to do good things for His children.

I think my current humility before God is in a way a result of the pride I once had. God showed me that pride in an instant, and it absolutely crumbled before Him. We all tend to think we are right, that we are justified in what we do and have done, when that is never 100% the case. It’s not that everything we do is bad or wrong, but that we never have a perfect track record. I still have the tendency to think I’m right, period, and a certain element of that is necessary, I think, to avoid constantly dithering in indecision, but I’ve got to keep remembering that God’s smart and I’m not, regardless of my IQ. I need to be actively seeking Him and His will for me constantly, not resting on past encounters but knowing there is always more. As has been said, I’m not to expect a fresh assignment from God until I’ve completed the last one He gave me. At the same time, I need to be willing for Him to lead me in ways I’ve never gone before, because His plans are always better than mine.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for what You brought me through yesterday, and for what You have planned for today. I only know part of that at this point, but I know I can trust You and Your plans for me. May I be Your agent to accomplish Your will, on Your schedule, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!