Barbara's Banter

Today is the day the Lord has made…

I will rejoice today because the Bible tells me all things work together for good for those called according to God’s purpose (Romans 8:28). I know I have been called for God’s purpose, so this promise is definitely for me.

Many think the Christian life is free from trials and turmoil. The Bible tells us a different story (1 Peter 4:12). Christians go through hardships just like everyone else (Matthew 5:45). So Romans 8:28 is not saying that everything that happens to us will make us happy. Rather, it is saying God can take anything that happens to us and use it for good in some way.

This can be for His good, the good of others, or even for our good. Hardships are opportunities to trust God. Every problem can teach us something to help transform us little by little into the person God designed us to be which is part of His purpose.   

We need to have faith that no matter what happens, God is active in our lives. Nothing happens outside of His will, plan, or purpose. God knows the future and what He wants to accomplish. We can have confidence that whatever happens will be ultimately for good.

“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.” ~Romans 8:28

Today is the day the Lord has made…

I will rejoice today because God gives my life meaning and purpose. Most people look to things around them for identity, motivation, contentment, or purpose. However, nothing around us can really give us these things. We can only get them by looking up to God. not around us at people or circumstances. Only God can fulfill our desires. That’s why God should be what we desire more than anything on earth (Psalm 73:25-26). 

God created each of us to make a difference in the lives of others, especially those we meet. Each of us matters to God and each person we meet matters to God, as well. God can take what little we have to offer and multiply it to be used for His glory. For example, all one young boy had to offer was five loaves of barley and two small fish (John 6:9). Yet Jesus multiplied it to feed five thousand people (Matthew 14:1618). And so it is with us. God can transform what little we have to make a difference for others.

Our purpose is to glorify God (Isaiah 43:7). We can do this by reflecting the love of Jesus to all we meet. If we do that, God will choose how it can be manifested for His glory.

“Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the
Lord’s purpose that prevails.” ~Proverbs 19:21 (NIV)

Today is the day the Lord has made…

I will rejoice today because God is my strength. God knows that I am weak and my strength is not sufficient to handle challenges the world hurls my way.

In a way, this weakness is something that can draw all of us closer to God and help us put our trust in Him (Psalm 73:28). This is why Paul could say that when he was weak, he was actually strong (2 Corinthians 2:10). God’s strength is made perfect or manifested through our weaknesses and God’s presence in our lives (2 Corinthians 10:9).

That’s why connection to God is vital for our survival. Sometimes God’s presence will recharge our spiritual batteries immediately. At other times, God gives us just enough stamina to keep moving slowly forward, taking little steps towards what needs to be accomplished. Which way God chooses to strengthen us is up to Him. He knows what is best.

My flesh and my heart are weak and can fail, but God’s strength is limitless and cannot fail (Psalm 73:26). So I’m rejoicing today because God is the strength of my life.   

“The Lord is the strength of my life…” ~Psalm 27:1

Today is the day the Lord has made…

I will rejoice today because God is always with me. Jesus actually came to earth to be with me and you, all of us. His name is Emmanuel which means God with us (Matthew 1:23). God came to us. We didn’t have to find Him. He found us! Plus, God is with us all the time.

That means we never have to feel alone. He is with us during times of celebration. He’s also with us when we feel like we can’t go on or when our hearts are breaking. He cries with us. He feels our pain, and is there to help us cope, keep perspective, and survive (Psalm 23:4). 

As an added bonus He will never leave or forsake us (Hebrew 13:5). He provides safety and security. He fights our battles. He gives us wisdom when we ask. He is our strength when we are weak.

It’s a broken world but we can face it with courage and hope because God is with us. If that doesn’t give us a reason to rejoice every day, then what would?

“…they shall call His name Emmanuel,
which is translated, “God with us.”” ~Matthew 1:23

Today is the day the Lord has made…

I will rejoice today because God knows everything. This is marvelous news when you think about it. I don’t have to waste my time trying to figure out why things happen. Sure, there are times when we can see a clear picture of why things turned out the way they did, but many times we can’t. We have a very limited view of what happens; whereas God’s view is limitless.

We don’t know all the psychological aspects of why some people are OCD and others are ADHD, or why some people are easy to get along with and others are difficult. We don’t need to understand why life is not fair, or why some people seem to have more trials that others. It might be helpful to know the answers, but it’s not necessary. Everything we need to know, God will reveal to us in His time.

Here’s the gospel truth: God knows. God understands. God meets us where we are. Our job is to meet others where they are and point them to God. As long as we are moving towards God and not away from Him, we don’t need to understand everything because God does! 

“Great is our Lord and mighty in power; His
understanding has no limit.” ~Psalm 147:5 (NIV)

Today is the day the Lord has made…

I will rejoice today because salvation is a gift from God that I do not have to earn.

Many think they can earn salvation by being good. Truthfully, no one could ever be good enough. Our salvation doesn’t depend on our goodness, but on God’s goodness. God’s goodness and His love make salvation possible.   

Salvation is a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8). Accepting this wonderful gift saves us from the penalty of all our sins: past, present, and future (2 Timothy 1:9-10). Nothing we do will make God love us more, or even less. God loves all of us unconditionally.

Our good works could never produce salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9). However, our salvation should produce good works (Ephesians 2:10). Realizing how much God loves us should inspire us to serve and obey Him as an act of worship, not to gain His favor.

I rejoice because my salvation does not depend on my goodness, but on God’s greatness!

“Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
his greatness no one can fathom.” ~Psalm 145:3 (NIV)

Today is the day the Lord has made…

I will rejoice today because it’s not my job to fix people or their situations. That’s God’s job, not mine. My job is to love them. I will admit that loving people is not always an easy task, but it is a lot easier than trying to solve all their problems, change their point of view, or live their lives for them.  

All of us are broken in one way or another, but humans cannot fix this brokenness. Only God can do that! Even then, God doesn’t really fix people. However, He will transform those who yield to Him. Transformational change takes time, patience, and love.

My job is to reflect God’s love by listening with a caring heart, showing compassion, pointing people to God, praying with them if they are receptive, and definitely praying for them whether they want me to or not. This doesn’t mean I condone or accept everything they might do, but it’s not my job to fix them. I’ll leave that in God’s hands. Afterall, I can’t even fix myself, so what makes me think I can fix others?

“…The things which are impossible with men
are possible with God.” ~Luke 18:27

This is the day the Lord has made…

I will rejoice today because Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12). He is also the light that shines in my darkness (John 1:5). I have nothing to fear because the Lord is my light and my salvation (Psalm 27:1). So no matter how dark my days may seem, Jesus is always with me. His light will shine forth to lead the way.

My darkness is not dark to God. He knows what is in the darkness even when I don’t (Daniel 2:22). At times, I may feel confused, but God is never confused. An unexpected event may surprise me, but God is never surprised. I may feel as if my life is out of control, but God is never out of control. If I surrender to God and relinquish my control to Him, I can find peace even when I feel surrounded by darkness.

“He reveals deep and secret things;
He knows what is in the darkness…” ~Daniel 22:2

This is the day the Lord has made…

I will rejoice today because God remains faithful even when I don’t (2 Timothy 2:13). God’s faithfulness to me does not depend on my obedience to Him.

Does this give me a license to sin? I think not! However, it does require me to daily call on God’s wisdom, power, and strength, rather than depending on my very limited knowledge, instincts, or even natural abilities. As I surrender to God, I must trust Him to do what is best for me.  

Although I strive to obey God, I tend to fall short of my goals. It’s hard to keep perspective. For example, these might be my goals instead of God’s. At these times, I try to think of how far I’ve come, not how far I need to go. My life is frail and unpredictable. Therefore, I am so very thankful that I am not the master of my fate. I can leave that in God’s loving hands.  

“If we are faithless, He remains faithful;
He cannot deny Himself.” ~2 Timothy 2:13

Today is the day the Lord has made…

I will rejoice today because life is a banquet. In the book which was made into a stage play/movie/musical titled Auntie Mame, author Patrick Dennis wrote about how his flamboyant aunt knew how to enjoy life. She said, “Life is a banquet, and most poor suckers are starving to death.” I wonder if we forget that the Christian life is a banquet meant to be enjoyed, not endured.  

Jesus came so we could have an abundant life which could be a metaphor for a banquet (John 10:10). In biblical times, another word for banquet might be a celebration or a feast. God apparently loved feasts so much He named Old Testament Holy Days using that very word (Leviticus 23). These special days were meant to be times of celebration. People were encouraged to enjoy good food and yea, verily, even wine. Perhaps that’s why in the New Testament, the first miracle performed in Christ’s ministry was turning water into wine at a wedding party, not so people could get drunk, but so they could continue a celebration.    

I’m sure there will be a few morsels of delight that God has in store for me today. With His help, I can savor what He lays before me.

“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good.
Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!” ~Psalm 34:8