Each day is a gift from God. We should be joyful about what we get to eat and drink and share it with others. We can find joy in sharing with one another. These acts of kindness lift each other up and give glory to God for the gift of today. When we give freely of what we were given freely we have no room for guilt. Feeling bad takes us away from being able to be fully present in all that the Lord has given us. He is our strength and we can own that when we know where our day comes from. This is the joy He wants us to experience.
Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Nehemiah 8:10 NIV
Our path in life is not known to us until He lights the way. Independence was the world’s idea. Dependence is His idea. This is why He makes known to us the path of life. Our dependence on Him will give us a clear view of our path and we can find joy in having clarity of our path. Is that not what we all seek at some point or another? We want purpose and direction. We spend countless hours planning our next steps and trying to be in control of what comes next. However, the gift of joy comes when we lay our plans down and embrace our dependence on Him. This is also when clarity of our path happens. We will be filled with joy for the presence He now takes in our lives.
You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
Psalm 16:11 NIV
Considerations for your planner:
- Have you shared the gift of today with someone? Write down what sharing your day with someone else looks like.
- Do you trust God to light your path in life? Write down the desires of your heart and give those things to God.
A Story of Dependence Giving Joy:
Today I experienced a PTSD trigger. I was diagnosed with PTSD 4 years ago from my time in the military. It has been a long, hard road of healing, but I have been healing. The triggers are less than ever before, but they are not fully diminished.I am grateful for my relationship with God. He has been the biggest part of my healing.
The trigger that happened today could have been much worse. I certainly remember when they were worse. I did not hit full panic attack thankfully, but the overwhelm still took its toll on my mind, body, and overall energy. I know the attack never came because of the grace of God. I turned to Him and He walked me through remaining calm, breathing, and turning away from the horrible voices in my mind trying to get me to spiral.
Although I am sad for having to go through a triggering situation, I am grateful for the awareness I was able to gain. He showed me how things like pride, because of embarrassment, made me spiral before and I did not choose that path this time. It was all Him. I depended on Him for strength. I feel joy this evening for knowing He was there for me and saved me from myself.
- Anonymous
Strengthen the Christian Planner Family by sharing your experiences. We'd love to hear a story about God's work in your life. Use the form linked below to submit your story.
