Today is “one of those days”. I am struggling. My body aches, my heart hurts, and I just want to crawl back into bed and stay put. I have perfectly valid reasons. My sleep is restless. I go to bed tired, but I wake up feeling worse…like a truck has driven over me all night long. I’ve had a terrible headache all week long. I’ll be tested later this month for sleep apnea. It runs in my family. The doctor says to lose weight. I’ve been trying to lose weight for several years to no avail. I walk around with a constant headache. And then there is the issue of my heart. November 24th marks ten years that we got THE most devastating news in all our pregnancies. November 24, 1999 was the day we realized our third child was not expected to live. I miss Josiah. I wish we had more pictures of our short time with him. I can’t wait to be reunited with my precious son.
Valid reasons or not, what if I do that? What if I just turn off the world for the day and crawl back into bed? I could slip into a deep depression and would anyone notice? Of course!!! First of all, my LORD would notice. How can He use me if I am curled up in bed? Well, He is God and He would find a way, but what about the divine appointments He has planned for me today? What if there is someone out there in this great, big world that needs to a smiling face or a gospel tract? What if there is someone who is actually in a deep depression out there? Maybe they need to see someone who has the JOY of the Lord. What about my husband? He goes off to work in the morning after praying with me in bed. What if I am still in bed when he comes back home? How have I blessed him this day? I am created to be his helpmeet. Wouldn’t he be disappointed if his helpmeet took the day off to sulk in bed? Of course! What about his precious children that he leaves in my care during the day? Sure, they could fend for themselves with Dan here to help them, but don’t they need their Mama to guide them and teach them? Of course they do!
Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
Lord, today I need You more than ever. Cleanse me Lord of all my sin. I don’t have any strength of my own today. Lord, I depend on YOU to get me through this day, but not just to survive the day, but to live it with JOY! Lord, You are my strength. You are my source of JOY. Fill my cup today to overflow and spread YOUR joy to another soul today. With Your grace, today I choose JOY! Thank You LORD for loving me, for forgiving me, and for your strength. In Jesus’ name…AMEN!
Choose JOY today!
