3/6/12

Living One Day at a Time


Living One Day at a Time
(taken mostly from Jesus Calling devotional by Sarah Young)

·         1. Follow Me one step at a time. "That is all I require of you. In fact, that is the only way to move through this space/time world.  You see a huge mountain looming and you start wondering how you’re going to scale those heights….But you don’t know what will happen today, much less tomorrow. Our path may take an abrupt turn, leading you away from those mountains. There may be an easier way up the mountains…I will equip you thoroughly for that strenuous climb.” (Feb. 1)

o   God is lighting your path.  Ps. 18:28-29 – For You will light my lamp; the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness. For by You I can run against a troop, by my God I can leap over a wall.

o   Faith is essential, not sight.  2 Cor. 5:7 - For we walk by faith, not by sight.

·         2. You can find Me only in the present. (Feb. 3)  We look to the past and have regrets or even joys. We look to the future for joys or trials. Instead, we should look at our present. What is God doing in my heart right now? What is God doing in my life right now? No matter if you are in a trial or a season of joy, God says to focus only on the present.

o   What we face now, God has already overcome. Rom. 8:31 - What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

o   He is the God who sees. God was found to Hagar, in her moment of need, as the God who sees. Gen. 16:13-14 - Then she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees; for she said, “Have I also here seen Him who sees me?” Therefore the well was called (The Well of the One who Lives and Sees).

·         3. The best way to get through this day is step by step with Me. “Continue this intimate journey, trusting that the path you are following is headed for heaven. (Feb. 4) We know where we are headed. We know the end of the path. It is when we try to take the “bird’s-eye” view that we sometimes get overwhelmed with the journey.  Get out of the clouds and look only to the next step. This day. Not even until the end of the week. Take it one day at a time.

o   God will give strength – it is a promise! Ps. 29:11 - The Lord will give strength to His people; The Lord will bless His people with peace.

o   God’s salvation and mercy are given daily. Ps. 13:5 - But I have trusted in Your mercy; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.  Lam. 3:22-24 - Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.  “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!”

·         4. Do not be ashamed of your exhaustion. “Instead, see it as an opportunity for Me to take charge of your life…Start with where you are at this point in time and space, accepting that this is where I intend you to be. You will get through today one step, one moment at a time. Your main responsibility is to remain attentive to Me, letting Me guide you through the many choices along your pathway.” (Feb. 7)

 o   Even the really hard, exhausting movements are worked into good. Rom. 8:28 - And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

o   Hope in God. Ps. 42:11 - Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.

3/2/12

Survial Day

I wrote in Lesson #5 that a goal as mothers should not be to "survive." We are to remember to enjoy this time with our children because time marches on and they will grow. 

Ok, I still believe that with all my heart, but today is a Survival Day.  We all have them.  I am not going to be self-righteous to think that just trying to love each moment and embracing each day with joy solves all problems. 

Mothers strive.
Mothers survive.

Today is a survive type of day for me. 

We will all have those days when the sun comes up, and 10 seconds later so do our children.  And we just feel like covering our heads with the blanket and drifting back to sleep. 

Mothers strive.

Mothers survive.

Today my goal is to have happy, healthy, dressed children. 

Whether we get to practice letters and numbers may or may not happen.  Whether I clean the basement as planned, is not the priority.  I will strive only to survive. Whether I have dinner or not is not my concern.

Lots of reasons will come through your life that cause you to have Survival Days. 
It may be a day that your loved one passed away.
It may be a day that a child is sick and demanding.
It may be a day that is just raining and depressing, and so is your mood.
It may be a day in the middle of the week and you think, how can I make it until Saturday?

Mothers strive.
Mothers survive.

It is ok to only survive today.  Give yourself a day, or two at the most. Rest.

But tomorrow - wake up and ask the Lord to give you more strength than to just survive.  Ask Him to wake you up and help you embrace the day.

Just don't beat yourself down if today is a Survival Day.