Psalm 108

Click above to listen to Awaken the Dawn from my fifth album Unveiled as you read (also on December Peace and Treasures of Peace). If you enjoy, consider ordering a CD or MP3 Album or Sheet Music (the song is also on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, Pandora and more).

What does a sunrise symbolize for you?

This week is “graduation week” for our family, with our son finishing 12th grade and daughter finishing 8th grade. This fall my wife and I will be in new territory with a college freshman and high school freshman. We will also celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. My desire is to find hope looking forward and looking back as 2015 unfolds.

Yet, with so many special memories from the past, and such great anticipation for the future, I can have trouble living in the moment. I catch myself thinking about tomorrow or the next day, or even something on my schedule for later today. My sense of hope can become misguided or even get lost in the busyness. How about you?

Ever since I composed Awaken the Dawn from Psalm 108:1-2 (also see Psalm 57:7-8), sunrises have been a richer symbol of hope for me. Somehow this music embraces a human longing we all share each and every day — a desire for hope in the midst of life’s circumstances.

For me, trying to fulfill this longing for hope with my own strength, my own plans, or my own common sense, always falls short. Below are three ways to connect hope with each day’s sunrise. As you read them, see which one speaks most to your heart right now, and try to practice it.

1. REST. We are in a place of rest when watching a sunrise, or rising from sleep to the sunrise and a new day. Resting moves us toward hope.

“Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.” — Psalm 62:5

2. WAIT. We have to wait for the sun to rise. This is true whether we woke up early to get in position, to get the camera ready to capture a sunrise, or we have been resting through the night, waiting for the new day. Waiting moves us toward hope.

“Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” — Psalm 27:14

“…but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” — Isaiah 40:31

3. SURRENDER. We cannot control the sunrise. We cannot control our life circumstances. We can try to make wise decisions and then take action, but ultimately a posture of surrender is needed. Surrender moves us toward hope.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” — Proverbs 3:5-6

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you. Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in him.” — Psalm 32:8-10

Which will you use to connect hope with tomorrow’s sunrise?

The inspirational verses behind Awaken the Dawn…

“My heart, O God, is steadfast; I will sing and make music with all my soul. Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn.” — Psalm 108:1-2

“My heart, O God, is steadfast, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music. Awake, my soul!Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn.” — Psalm 57:7-8

Click above to listen to Awaken the Dawn from Unveiled as your background reading music (piano and five guest artist ensemble). If you enjoy, consider purchasing the song, album download, or CD from Amazon, iTunes, or stantonlanier.com (where sheet music is also available).

How will you “awaken the dawn” today?

For me, every sunrise ushers in a feeling of hope, a sensation of awakening with passion for a new day, a summons for gratitude in spite of my struggles. I love to watch and photograph sunrises like the one below, but there is a catch. I have to wake up very early, and get in position. Writing these two steps created an “aha” moment. Here is what I mean…

Breaking down “Wake Up Early”
Wake — This reminds me to breath in God’s attributes of true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, praiseworthy. Not just to survive, but to thrive. Up — This reminds me which way to look for instruction, guidance, wisdom, and when life gets me down. Early — This reminds me, as though I were treasuring a live sunrise, to treasure God’s grace and to give Him thanks first (early) each morning. One of my favorite quotes is, “Don’t ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive” (Wild at Heart by John Eldredge).

Breaking down “Get In Position”
Get — This reminds me of my responsibility for my posture toward God, people, and tasks. Instead of “get” illustrating selfishness, I want it to be about what Paul says in Matthew 6:31 (The Message): What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. In – This reminds me be “in” the moment, to be ready, to nurture my inside (private) heart life in order to experience a more fruitful outside (public) living. Position — This reminds me I have a role in the story, a part to play, a position to take in today’s story God is writing (for example: husband, father, child, brother, leader, co-worker). You can fill in the positions He has for you.

How can you better “awaken the dawn” tomorrow?

“My heart, O God, is steadfast; I will sing and make music with all my soul. Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn.” — Psalm 108:1-2.

3 Ways to Find Hope in Sunrises

How Do You Awaken the Dawn?