May 25th, 2016
When you do not know what to do or what you should do, what do you do?
How about putting your head in the sand and wish the problem away? Procrastination has a way of compounding the problem. Procrastination is like unresolved heartburn. You can hope it goes away, but until you get out of bed and take a calcium tablet or two, you are just going to burn. The longer you wait the worse it hurts. Maybe we should make use of the time to address the problems early before a molehill turns into a mountain.
Ephesians 5:15-17 “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.”
How about worry? Of course this is the natural response to unresolved conflict, problems or circumstances we face. Fretting is like a little squirrel in a cage. You go around and around wearing yourself out, but you’re not getting anywhere. Maybe we should pray.
Philippians 4:6-7 “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Depression is an option. To allow ourselves to be emotionally overwhelmed to the point where will and reason shut down is to cripple ourselves. Depression is like a well-oiled slide into the darkness. There is no resistance against this overwhelming pull; it is like a crushing weight suffocating hope, purpose, joy, love, and when left alone, some go to the point of despair or to the point of self harm. For the Christian, this is a choice to be immersed in the wallow of self pity. No wonder we get depressed. To be depressed, you have to look at yourself, your sin, your failures, your weakness, your inability, your uncontrollable circumstances surrounding your family, friends or lack thereof, your illness, your financial failures and this list can go on add nauseam. Looking at one’s self through this kind of lens would be like shooting a mouse with an elephant tranquilizer. Why not take our eyes off of self and look to our God?
Psalm 42:11 “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.”
How about choosing to embrace the day as a gift from God regardless of the good, bad or the ugly in it? Yes, there is no perfect day. Yes, there is no perfect us. But we can choose to hang onto the coattails of an ever loving, ever caring, ever perfect God to help us through and even to flourish through it on an updraft.
Isaiah 40:28-31 “Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
How about agreeing with God?
Psalm 118:24 “This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
Is it possible to make a choice to have a good day every day in spite of what the day may bring? This would be powerful. This would be super. Yes, supernatural; against the nature of man and in line with the nature of God. It lines up with what the Apostle Paul says:
Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
Of course, to live this way and to think this way requires faith. Our faith can only be fortified by the Word of God.
Romans 10:17 “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
Of course, not to live this way and not to think this way only requires unbelief.
Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
It seems God wants you and me to have a good day no matter what.
It seems to me we have a responsibility to make a choice at the beginning of the day to hitch our wagon to Someone greater than ourselves. And if we choose to do this, we must trust our God with the day He gave to us as good stewards. Starting the day without the Lord is like putting contaminated fuel in your car. It will go with fits and starts and leave you stranded alone somewhere you really do not want to be.
Why not start the day by:
“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen” (1 Peter 5:7-11)
Have a great day in the Lord,
By making Him the Lord of your day,
Only because of Jesus,
Pastor John Schofield
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