I've been going through Bill MacDonald's "One Day at a Time" this year and it has been such a blessing to my heart. I was reading what he wrote about endurance in this life, an endurance for the things of God. He talked about how many people view the Christian life in a very idealistic manner, a manner that makes it seem as if every day should be filled with an "uninterrupted series of mountaintop experiences." It's like this idea does not include heartbreak, trials, daily routines that become monotonous, hard work, etc. And, when we find ourselves experiencing these things we become disheartened, discouraged and feel deprived. MacDonald goes on to say:
The true facts are these. Most of the Christian life is...'the way of plodding perseverance in the doing of apparently small things.' This is the way I have found it. There has been a full share of menial tasks, of long hours of disciplined study, of service without apparent results. At times, the question has arisen, 'Is anything really being accomplished?' Just then the Lord would drop some token of encouragement, some wonderful answer to prayer, some clear word of guidance. And I would be strengthened to go for a while longer. ... If you are ever tempted to quit, remember the words of Hebrews 10:36 (NEB), 'You need endurance if you are to do God's will and win what He has promised.'
So, when you're feeling discouraged because you have yet another load of laundry to do or the floor needs to be scrubbed again or just another day of work, be sure to look for those "tokens of encouragement" that the Lord gives you to help you go on, to remind you of His faithfulness, even in the midst of the mundane!
A noble life is not a blaze
Of sudden glory won,
But just an adding up of days
In which God's will is done.
One Day at a Time, January 10
4 comments:
I love that poem. I need to copy that down.
Today at Luke's funeral we sang Trust and Obey b/c it was one of his favorites. So much of the Christian life is just about trusting the Lord with each day as it comes and then just obeying. So simple - I tend to make it more complex.
Yes, I think it is more simple than we realize. We always try to complicate things when what we generally need to be doing is just putting one foot in front of the other!
I was sorry I wasn't able to go to the funeral but I prayed endlessly for them all day long. They have been heavy on my heart all week.
Thanks for the encouragement Kelly. I was just trying to get the motivation to go mop my kitchen. :)
Thanks Kelly. Ultimately our reward will come in eternity.
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