I get to...

Monday, August 4, 2014 (8:22 a.m.)

Holy Father God,

Thank You. I get to sit here and choose time to be alone with You. I get to listen and hear. I get to look around and see. I get to choose. Thoughts. Actions. Deep, cleansing breaths.

Thank You Father. Thank You that right in the midst of carefree, intentional yard work yesterday I recognized angry, bitter feelings. A sense of not caring. Not wanting. Not understanding. It was all very uncomfortable. I didn't want to feel what I was feeling. I tried working harder. Then not working at all. I attempted communicating with others followed by withdrawing altogether. Thank You that through it all I was aware of You. I knew it was not Your best for me and that it was not up to me to “fix” it.

I was honest. I was open. I was willing. And it passed. As suddenly as it had come upon me, it was gone. I felt it lift. Much like the change in the weather. Thank You Father. Thank You that even in my irritated, annoyed, vexed state You did not leave me alone.

This morning I get to look to You. I get to turn to page 247 in The Life Recovery Bible and read Free to Choose (Deuteronomy 30:15-20). I am free to choose because of all You have done on our behalf. And I am extremely grateful for Your tender care of our every need.

As I sit here reading and contemplating Your Word, I ask You to grant me the good sense to choose You. Verse 20 (Contemporary English Version) tells us to, “Be completely faithful to the Lord your God, love Him, and do whatever He tells you. The Lord is the only one who can give life and He will let you live a long time in the land that He promised to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”

My head and my heart both know this to be true. I believe it because I get to want to! Here, sadly for me, is where the rubber too often meets the road. Knowing, believing and choosing doesn't always equate to faithful servitude on my part. Far too many times I give up, quit, fail to continue because of opposition of almost any kind.

Father, I ask You to work in and through me this day. Do all You must to make me faithful (Revelation 2:10). Loving. Kind. Earnest (Revelation 3:19).

Yes Father. The Easy-to-Read Version translates Jesus' words as, “I correct and punish the people I love. So show that nothing is more important to you than living right. Change your hearts and lives.” 

Help me make that change in all I am, think, say and do this day. Let me love and reflect You well. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

 (476 words ~ 9:07 a.m.)