New Morning MerciesSample

### Prepare for the Day Ahead Many of us react to the troubles of our day instead of preparing our hearts for them. This time of preparation often comes in the morning when we seek a renewed perspective with the Lord. But when we roll out of bed and dive headfirst into our troubles without preparation, all we can do is react to them. The Bible places a great deal of emphasis on preparation. Jesus tells a story of ten virgins who were going to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were prepared with extra oil and the other five weren’t. When the bridegroom finally came, only the five with extra oil were prepared to meet him. Though this is a parable of the end times, it notes how important preparation for the future is. In the mornings, we prepare best for the day ahead by getting our heart and mind right. It’s easy to wake up with dread in our heart and mind. To prepare for the day, we must capture that dread and redirect it back to hope. Here’s how I do this. When I wake up, after I do my devotion and while I’m journaling, I ask myself one simple question: how will I enjoy today? When you ask yourself this question, you go on the search for joy. You see that there is hope for this day because God created it and God is in it. And best of all, you give yourself something to look forward to! Prepare your hearts in the morning and it could make all the difference in the day.