Our youngest child learned a prayer in preschool that he often recites at dinner. It begins with, "Thank you, God, for this great day..." He believes this truth - that this day is great. Whether in reflection of the day elapsed or in anticipation of the day forthcoming, he senses it's greatness. He completely trusts that this great day has been created by God, for him to enjoy. He can't comprehend the Divine Majesty of such a God that can just create days like this, so he doesn't try to understand it, he simply laughs, plays, cries, and embraces the gift of this day, greatly given.

I believe in the trust worthiness of the toasted oats, I think. Yet, I too easily fail to trust God, I know. I academically believe that God created this great day as I know the scripture that tells me this. However, the clouds of heart doubt and head practicality loom as I consider that while God must have created this day in some supernatural, disconnected way that it's up to me to navigate through it; it's up to me to carry the weight; I must figure it out. And anxiety swells. Over breakfast, I mull the to do lists and strategic plans for the day as I eat the cereal that the manufacturer says I trust and forget the God that proves His trustworthiness from generation to generation.
Our oldest son is learning a memory verse for school this week. We join him in learning these together - him wanting to memorize for a grade, us wanting the words to penetrate deep. Psalm 100:2 says, "Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before him singing with joy" (NLT). Why the giddy praise? Verse 5 continues, "For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation." The Creator-God of the universe has unconditional love that never ends and his commitment to us is never exhausted. The Psalmist is ecstatic, strolling around with song, gladness overflowing from the heart. He knows this day is great, made by God, and given to us. The Bible tells us this story over and over. And again. And once more. And in my life I've seen it played out. And repeated. And again. God's love is unending, his faithfulness unfailing. He only asks us to trust - begs us to trust, in fact. Without any marketing, God invites us into a risk-filled adventure that's completely safe in His promised peace. His faithfulness continues and He is good. "Trust me," He says.
God, Thank you for the prayer brought to us by our preschooler. Thank you for this great day. May the truth of that statement saturate my heart and engulf my spirit. I am swooned by media created marketing messages, yet too easily complacent or disconnected to your eternal promises. Deepen my trust in You, Jesus. Help me to trust. Work in my life-hardened heart so that I stroll along with praise on my lips and joy spilling about my path. Sit with me in the morning, over cereal, as I give up my perception of control for the day, and simply embrace it for the gift that it is - given to me, by you, for all that's good. May I trust in that. Amen.
Beautiful, convicting reminder to let go of ourselves and our agendas in order to walk with Christ in His Spirit through the day. Thank you for this, Matt! God bless.
ReplyDeleteDebbie
Thanks, Debbie. God continues to call me into deeper trust. My head too often gets in the way. But, I'm learning!
ReplyDeleteWhat is you replace "learning" with "leaning" - learning we do with the head and it often gets in the way with its questions and protestations, but leaning we do with the heart and find ourselves falling into the arms of something, someone better before the head can even come up with a reason to protest. Think of it as a trust-fall of sorts:). I too love marketing, because it speaks so closely yet so inaccurately to the human condition, our deepest desires and fears. Thanks for your reflections Matt!
DeleteWell said, Kelly. Learning continues to put me in control of the process, there is a tipping point with leaning where I am no longer in control. That's where I want to, need to be - Thanks!
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