Today is a Good Day
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Philippians 4:11-13
For I have learned, in whatever state I am, to be content. I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound; in any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and want. I can do all things in him who strengthens me.
As so often is the case, these two verses articulate concisely what I’ve been attempting to say in my last several posts. Paul just cuts right to the heart of the matter sometimes. Christ is all we need. Period. Not money, not “success,” not approval from the world, not fame, nothing! Only Jesus. When Jesus is in our lives, everything else seems secondary. Our happiness is based not upon the things of this world, but upon our promise for perfection in every way, shape and form in the next life. No chronic pain, no depression, no battles with addiction, no fear, no loneliness, nothing that prevents us from being made perfect in this life.
Only Jesus. Sometimes when I feel compelled to pray, I have been reduced to a point that I can’t even think of what to pray – I’ve shared that my mind races at about 150 miles an hour often. At those times, I sometimes pray simply, “Only You Jesus, Only You” over and over. Not only does that simple prayer offer glory and praise to my Savior, it centers me and reminds me what is truly of value and importance in my life. I can get on with what I need to do when I am finished.
“I am nothing. . . without you.” Those are the words from a song on one of my CDs. It is an impassioned, haunting song and the singer sounds as if he has reached the point I referred to – when I don’t even know what to pray – only that I must pray. We were formed from dust. God formed the earth. We were prideful and defiant. God is ever loving and gracious. Eden was forever abandoned. God waits for us there at the end of time. How can we not be comforted when we dwell in these truths? When we base our lives on Jesus and only Jesus, we are no longer victims, but we are conquerors – and more than conquerors!
Paul really did have the authority to speak about being abased, hungry, in want. He was in prison for heaven sakes—more than once. And he was beaten and starved and chained. He didn’t care though! He was so full of gratitude to be used by God in spreading the Good News that he just didn’t care. He had an attitude of “bring it on.” Not in a defiant way, rather in a way that almost transcended the human condition. I think he drew upon some divine empowerment. His words obviously were powerful – and he reached so many people and modeled so vividly what it means to live as Jesus lived.
Today is a good day. That is how I attempt to begin each day now. If at the end of the day I’m not still saying that, then I need to take some time and figure out where and when and how I took my eye of the prize – heaven. Today is a good day. Every day is a good day when Jesus is the reason to be alive.
My prayer today is that you have a good day. And that you remember we were formed from dust, by the One who formed the universe.
Mary
