Ever have a day when everything went right? Uh-huh. Maybe. Sure. Yes, there have been a few days like that but yesterday was not one of them. But is today yesterday? Here’s how today begins…..”I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.” Psalm 59:16
My day started off in the best of ways – Plan A: Walk and talk with a great friend – Rain! So Plan B: Breakfast and talk with a great friend – Perfect! I think great friends are like great therapy and it’s free. How can we argue with that? Proverbs 29:9 backs it up “Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice.”
After that the day deteriorated; not to the point of total disaster, but you know that final descent on the roller coaster when the thrill has past and the remaining ride is just, well you know – it’s just downhill. I’ve been working on a challenging project at work for the past few weeks and expected to continue for a few more. That was the plan – but here’s what became of that plan. “You’ve done a great job on this. We can take it from here.” It’s nice to hear the words, but I could do more. Oh well – but wait! I have a meeting at 9:00 to get another assignment that I’ve been waiting on for 3 weeks. Good, good, good – but at 8:55 I got a phone call. “Sorry I have no time to meet today, maybe next Monday, but no promises.” Plans . . . and then nothing.
Right about now Psalm 20: 4 was making the rounds in my head “May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.” Apparently this is talking about long term plans because that’s the trail my circumstances followed yesterday. But wait! There’s more. (I just thought I’d throw that in there.) Are you with me? The day continued after the 9:00 change of plans – but here is the very last thing I read before leaving for the day. “Thanks for your work on this. It’s not what I was thinking. It’s not useful or necessary.” That message came in an email from someone I didn’t know and had no idea how she got the report I created. Instantly when reading that I realized that the enemy of my soul was responsible for all the negativity of the day. Remember what it says in 1Peter 5:8 “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” I was wearing a target a big as a barn. My already sad and broken heart was on Satan’s agenda to rip it to shreds – just like a lion goes after tender flesh.
Your enemy, the devil will hunt you down, find your most vulnerable defense and attack you right there. Is it your job, is it your child, is it your relationship, is it your family …. Whatever means the most to you is where you can expect to be attacked. Have any of your days been planned out and then fizzle out? Have you anticipated joy and instead got defeat? The enemy, the devil can’t wait to see you crumble. Armor up, my friends. Fight back. It’s a new day, another opportunity to take the derailment of yesterday and get back on track. Psalm 63:1 has wisdom for this new beginning “You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, I will glorify you.”
So what about today? It’s so easy to say I give up. I’m tired, I’m weak, I’m worn. Right? But that’s not anticipating God’s best. That’s letting the enemy of your soul pick you up and slam you to the ground in defeat. Instead, let’s fall into the arms of God and remember how it’s stated in Lamentations 3:22-24 “the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” New – every morning. Begin again . . .
Psalm 20:5 “May we shout for joy over your victory and lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the Lord grant all your requests.”
Let’s get out there!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BJhOgb-unI
Because of Grace we Press On