a very nice balance

Tuesday, June 16, 2015 (6:55 a.m.)

Blessed Father,

Thank You. There is order developing around here. Not as intentional as just happening. Putting one thing away leads to another without becoming obsessive. Yes, Father. There is a balance. A very nice balance.

Thinking of things as being accomplished without becoming all-consuming led me straight to 2 Corinthians 4:8. The paradox of being 'cracked and chipped from our afflictions on all sides, but not crushed by them; bewildered at times, but not given to despair' (The Voice).

It's because of You that we don't give up. Other transcriptions of this section of Scripture (vs. 7-9) use various descriptive words to paint the picture of the “pressures, perplexities, and struggles that mark our lives” (Illustrated Bible Handbook Clay Jars). All done to show “that our enablement 'is from God, and not from us.'”

Blessed Father, that is exactly what You have been showing us around here recently. We give it all to You. Our discouragements, frustrations, wonders, problems. And You guide us through them.

See? Just look right here. The last paragraph of a Step 1 devotional (The Life Recovery Bible) on this very subject. “Once we recognize the paradox of powerlessness, we can be quite relieved. We don't have to always be strong or pretend to be perfect. We can live a real life, with its daily struggles, in a human body beset with weakness and still find the power from above to keep going without being crushed and broken.”

Oh, yes, Father! Thank You. Thank You for this very nice balance brought about by You, our Perfect Balancer!

We love You. We long to serve You. And we ask for all that is needed for it to be done through Your strength and power. We love You. We thank You. Amen.

(302 words ~ 8:07 a.m.)