Daily Peace - Our Manna

     Jesus Calling is my favorite daily devotional.  Today's reading is particularly fitting for the theme of this blog.  I recently came to the realization that there wasn't really a particular purpose I had in mind when I started writing here but found myself jumping around a lot from topic to topic, attitude to attitude.  One thing that has become clearly important to me to share here is how important it is to live our lives one day at a time - hence the change in the title and description of the blog.

     Each day really is different.  For a long time I tried desperately to create a schedule for my day, week, month.  There are endless resources to help break down our time into increments in an attempt to make our days more manageable.  As time passed so did my perspective on this illusion of control.  Don't get me wrong; I think it's important to strive for a rhythm in our days and consistency in our duties.  I just know that it always seemed to be a source of anxiety for me that I wasn't living up to my own expectations - my plans.  But I rarely asked God for guidance each morning for that days work.  I just barreled into it with my own plans and desires.

     Program taught me many things and among the most important are the necessity of living one day at a time.  We have a lot of "slogans" -

Let Go and Let God

Easy Does It

Live and Let Live

First Things First

Just Do The Next Right Thing

One Day at a Time

Keep It Simple

Think

Listen and Learn

... and one of my favorite...

Don't just do something, sit there!

(the point being don't jump too quickly - think first and then decide IF you even need to DO)

     

     About a month ago, I realized the heightened sense of Peace I experienced on days when I was able to intentionally stay in the moment, focusing only on the "next right thing" and it dawned on me - this is what living one day at a time looks like.  The light bulb moment.  And the thing about living one day at a time is that we have to choose to do that - every single day.  It requires daily surrender and awareness of God's presence. 

     Have you ever had a thought planted that you found yourself contemplating often and then experienced frequent reinforcement of that thought and felt strongly that it was God's way of confirming it?  I have received that type of message these past weeks from a wide range of sources.  Really it was there all along but my awareness of them became more acute and I could start to see all the pieces fit together.  And today, Good Friday, I read words on a page that, yet again, confirm and encourage me in this "one day at a time" living.

"Peace is My continual gift to you.  It flows abundantly from My throne of grace.  Just as the Israelites could not store up manna for the future but had to gather it daily, so it is with My peace.  The day-by-day collecting of manna kept My people aware of their dependence on Me.  Similarly, I give you sufficient Peace for the present, when you come to me by prayer and petition with thanksgiving.  If I gave you permanent Peace, independent of My Presence, you might fall into the trap of self-sufficiency.  May that never be!

I have designed you to need Me moment by moment.  As your awareness of your neediness increases, so does your realization of My abundant sufficiency.  I can meet every one of your needs without draining My resources at all.  Approach My throne of grace with bold confidence, receiving My Peace with a thankful heart."

                                                                                         Jesus Calling by Sarah Young
                                                                                         April 18

     My interests and life seasons may change over time but my need for God's presence and peace will never change.  I will cling to the realization of my need for seeking Him daily and asking Him - "What's the next right thing, Father?"

Peace to you,


  Susan