The sun is shining through the French doors behind the antique chair in which I am sitting.
The Christian music is playing on the stereo.
I’ve just finished a delightful phone conversation about various topics with my daughter Melissa.
And I don’t have any painful ailments calling for attention just now.
Yes, life is good and I’m smiling.
And when I think of the incredible mercies that God pours out upon me day after day as He forgives my sins and provides for my needs, I realize that life is actually very good.
Of course, just like you, there are a number of everyday life circumstances that I wish were quite different.
I resist the temptation, though, to whine about income struggles or physical hindrances.
I have food to eat, people to love, a place to live and the physical/technological ability to help others.
I’m clearly favored by God, I know.
This is why I love verses like Psalm 34:1, a verse that describes how I know I should be.
“I will extol the LORD at all times; His praise will always be on my lips.”
When I hear people fret because their “wants” are not being realized according to their timetable, two verses often come to mind.
First, I think of Matthew 6:33 that calls me to seek first God’s Kingdom and His righteousness and then God will provide for my life needs.
Second, I think of 2 Cor. 9:8 that assures me that God will supply all my needs so that I can provide all the praise He wants.
I am praying that this national recession will prod Christians toward a clearer understanding of God’s will regarding material things and the need for dependency upon God.
When life is easy and affluent, it’s easy to lean on our own understanding. After all, WE got the good job and WE got the good deal and WE got the good family and WE caused our good health because WE are smart and WE are cool and WE have the X factor that people want around.
When tough times come, though, WE realize that obstacles are greater than WE are.
If WE are really smart, however, we’ll internalize Proverbs 3:5-6.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.”
Jesus is the Good Shepherd.
Walk in His path and you will have a good life.
It might not be the “good life” as defined by the world, but it will be very good because we’ll appreciate things like the gracious blessing of the sunshine, of worshipful Christian music, of delightful conversations with loved ones and the blessing of knowing that all physical ailments will be replaced with eternal absence of pain.
Now that’s good news worth smiling about, huh?
As always, I love you
Martin
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I started reading the Morning Devotion two months ago and I always believed that each morning God is communicating with me, either directly or indirectly. Today’s devotion is related to what I am going through now. Financially I am not in a good position but I can still provide food on the table for every meal, a place to stay, a job to earn a living, a healthy & loving family. I am very grateful to God I know that God is always ready to provide the needs because there are a number of instances when my savings run very low and additional funds just come in to help me go through it. Yes, there is a lot of truth in Matthew 6:33 and Proverbs 3:5-6. I will continue to seek God’s Kingdom first and trust in the Lord and the right “good life” will come forth. All glory to our LORD.
Erik,
Thanks for the insightful remarks. And thanks for the inspiring faith demonstrated in your comments. Reading words such as those you wrote are so important to helping other believers to remain focused on the important matters in life. I am grateful that God uses you as his vessel in your corner of the world.
Please encourage your friends to join the Morning Devotion community and to offer comments as did you. I look forward to learning from them and receiving inspiration from them just as I did from you.