“Listen to my words, Lord, consider my lament. Hear my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly” (Psalm 5:1-3).

Are you struck by David’s confidence in God when you read this psalm? He starts out asking God to hear him and to consider what he’s asking of God. He then reminds God about what he, David, does each morning: “I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.” Past experience and knowledge of God have taught David that when he lays requests before God, he will get an answer. 

At the end of this psalm, David uses a beautiful word picture: “Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield” (verse 12).

How about you and me? Do we start our mornings with the Lord, asking for his help to confront everything we will face in a peaceful way? Do we feel confident that we’re covered by the shield of God’s favor? Do we sense God’s blessings piling up at our feet? 

Even if you didn’t start out feeling blessed today, take time to see all the ways that God’s favor and blessing are evident in your life. Consider starting your day the way David did. Ask the Lord to help. Then David’s confident words will be your words too.