...and...

Herb Caen writes, in the San Francisco Chronicle, "every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning a lion wakes up. It knows it must outrun the slowest gazelle or it will starve to death. It doesn't matter whether you're a lion or a gazelle; when the sun comes up, you'd better be running."

When we awaken each morning, we must realize that "The devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:8)

In Psalm 5, we read that David came to God early in the morning and asked for his protection and help. We also need to pay attention to the vital importance of prayer.

"The Secret" 

By Bishop Ralph Cushman 

I met God in the morning 

When the day was at its best, 

And His Presence came like sunrise, 

Like a glory in my breast. 

All day long the Presence lingered, 

All day long He stayed with me, 

And we sailed in perfect calmness 

O'er a very troubled sea. 

Other ships were blown and battered, 

Other ships were sore distressed, 

But the winds that seemed to drive them, 

Brought to me a peace and rest. 

Then I thought of other mornings, 

With a keen remorse of mind, 

When I too had loosed the moorings, 

With the presence left behind. 

So, I think I know the secret, 

Learned from many a troubled way: 

You must seek Him in the morning 

If you want Him through the day!