I don't want to minimize anything; however, sometimes we need to step back and take another look at life. It seems to me that we need to look at all of life to be a good gift, including the difficult times of life. Writing this statement makes me stop and underline the fact that I don't want or welcome hard times. There are times when nothing feels easy, making it hard to put one foot in front of the other, painful to do what needs to be done, tiring to do the most simple tasks. Even so, I've come to realize that life itself, regardless of what's faced, is a gift.
For you make me glad by your deeds, LORD;
I sing for joy at what your hands have done (Psalm 92: 4, TNIV).
When we step back from the pressure of the moment, taking notice of the presence and work of God, we're changed, released from thinking we need to control it all, freed from fear, able to move forward in faith, focused on God rather than the stuff we're facing.
So. I'm not saying the battles of life disappear when we step back to focus on God, but that our perspective changes, enabling us to face all things differently, trusting God to oversee the "whys" of the day, glad for the gift of His presence.
Learning to Kickstart the day stepping back to see the presence of God.
Kerrie
(written by Kerrie Carlisle Palmer © 2011 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)
Turns out, no matter what, believing life is a gift, focusing on the Giver of life rather than on self, brings a new perspective and ability to manage what comes at us.In the ancient days, the people sang Psalm 92 on the Sabbath, the day they stepped back to focus on God, rather than on the stuff of life. Consider:
For you make me glad by your deeds, LORD;
I sing for joy at what your hands have done (Psalm 92: 4, TNIV).
When we step back from the pressure of the moment, taking notice of the presence and work of God, we're changed, released from thinking we need to control it all, freed from fear, able to move forward in faith, focused on God rather than the stuff we're facing.
We're renewed and refreshed, despite the challenges, when we step back and acknowledge God with the simple words of gratefulness from Psalm 92:4: "You make me glad!"When we come to the place where we know God is present regardless of our circumstances does not remove the "whys" of life but gives us the perspective that regardless of how things are going, God is present, faithful, and will not leave us, which is reason enough to be glad rather than to move into a distressed state of being and missing the gift.
So. I'm not saying the battles of life disappear when we step back to focus on God, but that our perspective changes, enabling us to face all things differently, trusting God to oversee the "whys" of the day, glad for the gift of His presence.
- Refuse to be driven by the circumstances of the day, acknowledge the Giver of the good gift of life.
- Intentionally step back.
- Focus on the gift of the day.
- Tell God, "You make me glad."
Learning to Kickstart the day stepping back to see the presence of God.
Kerrie
(written by Kerrie Carlisle Palmer © 2011 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)