Life is hard, even for one who follows Jesus. Life is hard because we live and work in a fallen and twisted world. Every day we are confronted with a struggle against sin and the effects of sin in our lives. God has promised strength to cope with these demands. But we have to turn to God to ask for such strength. As he provided each day anew for the Israelites in the wilderness, so does he provide for our needs-one day at a time, one thing at a time.
We cannot find this strength by filling up our spiritual tanks on Sunday and trying to make it to next Sunday. God’s strength is given as we go along, with each task. And so we are left to live in continuous dependence on God-just where he wants us.
Morning prayers are not a place to visit and leave. That is where we are to live. And with practice, we will find that we are able to carry on ordinary tasks without leaving the presence of God. In God’s presence, the ordinary things like child care and working for daily bread become holy. Satan and the world we live in have a different agenda. They would have us squeeze God’s place in our life down to the smallest possible piece-an hour on Sunday perhaps, or an occasional brief prayer. Satan’s goal is to persuade us to get God out of government, schools, all public life, and out of our days.
But God says to us: No, I want all of you: heart, soul, mind and strength. You belong to me; I have all my gifts for you. Come to be for my yoke is easy and my burden is light. If you want God’s strength, move into his presence and stay there. And when you drift from his presence, do not despair. Just quietly move back into the loving arms of our Father. He will never leave you to cope with life alone.
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We cannot find this strength by filling up our spiritual tanks on Sunday and trying to make it to next Sunday. God’s strength is given as we go along, with each task. And so we are left to live in continuous dependence on God-just where he wants us.
Morning prayers are not a place to visit and leave. That is where we are to live. And with practice, we will find that we are able to carry on ordinary tasks without leaving the presence of God. In God’s presence, the ordinary things like child care and working for daily bread become holy. Satan and the world we live in have a different agenda. They would have us squeeze God’s place in our life down to the smallest possible piece-an hour on Sunday perhaps, or an occasional brief prayer. Satan’s goal is to persuade us to get God out of government, schools, all public life, and out of our days.
But God says to us: No, I want all of you: heart, soul, mind and strength. You belong to me; I have all my gifts for you. Come to be for my yoke is easy and my burden is light. If you want God’s strength, move into his presence and stay there. And when you drift from his presence, do not despair. Just quietly move back into the loving arms of our Father. He will never leave you to cope with life alone.
-Copied-
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