by David Brenneman
"The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I have hope in Him.” The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, To the person who seeks Him." Lamentations 3:22-25.
To say that a week is crazy or is going totally unexpectedly is probably more common than not in the lives of people everywhere.
"And all my life you have been faithful
And all my life you have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God" (From Goodness of God - Bethel Music and Jenn Johnson).
Something that's been difficult for me is to accept that there are going to be things that I am not going to figure out. Troubleshooting is something that God's gifted me with the ability to do in most situations. Yet there are times when I have to accept that it isn't going to happen all the time.
Each day is new. Really think about that. It has never existed before we stepped into it. It wasn't there waiting without Jesus already there before we arrived.
Satan cannot live ahead of God's purpose in time and space. He isn't omnipresent. He isn't omniscient. He can try to manufacture things or manipulate people but he is constrained to observe the laws of God.
My life has had some crazy turns to it. The intensity level has gone down drastically since we moved.
I sort of liken it to a family joke. A family friend had a propensity to drive rather fast. When the subject of Cedar Point and rollercoasters came up, I would decline. I had ridden with this friend and everything else is a letdown after that lol.
While I still face things each day, each day begins with coffee, preparing for the day, and Jesus. My mornings do begin rather early.
But it's not on my schedule, it's when Jesus wants to meet with me.
Preparation is key. You cannot just run into the day apart from Him.
He wants your attention at the beginning of your day.
His grace and mercy are available but you need to seek out Jesus as part of that. Our Saturday Group Leader has often said to stay in step with your Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. Don't get ahead of Him, don't veer off in some other direction. Don't sit down if He's still moving. Keep pace with Jesus.
I often use the phrase "I'm not surprised. I've seen this episode before." in referring to situations during the day.
While my Wife and I have often compared our life in Columbus, Ohio as 20 plus years in the wilderness, it is our experience in those years that's prepared us for the here and now.
The passage we started with today isn't just something nice to read.
That passage is a promise of God.
Interestingly enough Dr. Charles Stanley's Life Principle for today is "Whatever you aquire outside of God's will eventually turns to ashes.".
When we jump into the day without regard to living it in Christ, it's not likely to turn out well.
As a good reminder...most of the Old Testament is about the rebellion of the children of Israel. Their obstinate stiff-necked lives against the will of God for them. Totally missing the power of God that could have been manifested in them and through them by their obedience to God's Word.
The Difference by Alan Grant
I got up early one morning
and rushed right into the day.
I had so much to accomplish
that I didn't have time to pray.
Problems just tumbled about me
and heavier became each task.
"Why doesn't God help me," I wondered.
He answered, "you didn't ask."
I wanted to see joy and beauty,
but the day toiled on, gray and bleak.
I wondered why God didn't show me.
He explained, "you didn't seek."
So, determined to be in God's presence
I used all my keys at the lock.
God gently and lovingly chided,
"My child, you didn't knock."
I woke up early this morning
and paused before entering the day.
I had so much to accomplish
that I had to take time to pray.
Before you get it in your head to start your day running...get to your knees first.
If it's been a long time since you prayed before starting your day...why? Jesus didn't step away. Jesus didn't turn His back on you. Jesus didn't leave you for someone else or something else.
I can't imagine a day where I don't talk to Jesus on my way to work. It's been now over 5 years of writing this blog. I can't write it if I don't show up when Jesus wants to meet with me.
My day begins and ends with time in God's Word.
Whatever you have made more important than what is important to Jesus is going to crumble. My Dear Reader, if you are indeed in Christ, He has a life prepared for you that begins and will be about discovery. He isn't going to reveal it all at once. He isn't going to turn the page before you are prepared enough to handle it. Eye has not seen nor has ear heard all that He has prepared for those who love Him.
You can't imagine it...but you can eagerly look forward to it.
My work life is crazy. No other way to butter that bread. It's crazy because of all kinds of things. But it's nothing that Jesus hasn't prepared me for. My anxiety level isn't high at all. For others it certainly is.
All my life you have been faithful...
...oh I'm gonna sing of the goodness of God...
All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.
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