Heart of Worship: 30 Days to Deeper PraiseSample

Hi, it’s Tasha Layton and I’m honored to bring you today’s passage from Psalm 113:3 (ESV):

“From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised."

There's something beautiful and powerful about the way each day begins and ends. I love sunrises and sunsets more than anyone else I know! One of my favorite things to do is sit on my porch and take in the beauty of sunrises and sunsets God has beautifully created. Scripture says His mercy is new every morning (Lamentations 3:23) and the setting sun reminds us of His faithfulness through the day. Psalm 113:3 beautifully captures this rhythm, calling us to a lifestyle of continual praise - "from the rising of the sun to its setting."

This Scripture is a call to worship that stretches beyond our Sunday mornings or special moments of devotion. It's a reminder that worship isn't meant to be just an event we attend, but a posture we carry from morning until night. In Jesus' time, worship from morning until night was deeply woven into the rhythm of daily life. It wasn't just about what happened in the synagogue or at the Temple - it permeated every part of life.

When the sun rises, it's easy to immediately reach for our phones, plan our schedules, or worry about the day ahead. But the psalmist reminds us that the first thing on our lips should be the name of the Lord. Our first response should be worship, which sets the tone for everything else. When we begin by exalting God, we remind ourselves Who is in control and reorient our hearts toward His purposes. It's not necessarily that we sing or pray every moment of the day (although, some days I find myself needing to do this!), but that every part of our day is lived with an awareness of God's presence. It means letting God be at the center of and involved in our work, our conversations, and even our rest. When our hearts are tuned to God's worthiness, our everyday actions can become acts of worship.

When the day ends, there can often be a temptation to dwell on the mistakes we made, or the unfinished tasks waiting for tomorrow. But Scripture invites us to close our day with praise. In doing so, we acknowledge that God was faithful through every hour and that He will be faithful again when the sun rises. Evening worship allows us to rest with peace, knowing the One we serve neither slumbers nor sleeps (Psalm 121:4).

To begin practicing praise from sunup to sundown - try starting the day with a short prayer of praise before anything else. Then, throughout your day, pause to thank God for His goodness. Then, ending your day with reflection, gratitude, and trust for tomorrow can be a beautiful way to close out one day and set up for the next.

Prayer:

Lord, from the moment my eyes open to the moment they close, may Your name be lifted high in my heart. Teach me to live each moment with worship, and to remember that You are worthy of praise at all times. Remind me that from the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised. Amen.