Finding Joy in the Ordinary - Your Nightly Prayer - August 8
Finding Joy in the Ordinary
Your Nightly Prayer
Candice Lucey
TONIGHT'S SCRIPTURE
“This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” - Psalm 118:24
SOMETHING TO PONDER
Summer is coming to an end, and maybe your mind is in overdrive, thinking about all of the plans that did not come to fruition or all of the work to come this Autumn. September is so often the “beginning” of the year: for students, parents, and teachers at least. While there are exciting times ahead, you know that there is also going to be a lot of work and stress. Meanwhile, you reflect back on the promises and declarations you made at the end of June. You were going to do so many things, but not all of them panned out. And now you feel sad, regretful, even panicked. You want to cram an impossible amount of summer into the last few days.
Now you have a list of woes and lows: you were sick when the camping trip was supposed to happen; you weren’t organized or motivated when your chance to go horseback riding came along; you joined some events spontaneously, but your credit card bill is a cruel punishment for deciding to have fun in the moment.
And now, growing kids need new running shoes for the gym. There are school fees to pay, and you have to coordinate the school drop-off schedule, plus after-school activities. How do you find time for yourself? You don’t, but instead start to dream about the summer holidays again. That helps you to fight a lingering dread that short days will bring on a bout of seasonal depression.
But God says that today is his day. He made it. He knew what would happen to you today and every day going forward, and we know that he is in that day with you. Psalm 118:6 says, “The Lord is on my side; I will not fear.” He is with us and he is for us. While there will be challenges and low points, there is also the promise of his constant presence and concern for us.
We have the choice, as summer ends, to look back and forward with only disappointment and dread, or to recall the beauty of Summer and the potential of Fall. We have the choice to remember highlights or focus on lost opportunities. This is not easy, but when we return to Psalm 118:24, knowing that David rejoiced in the midst of his struggle, we are reminded that joy is possible at any time. Jesus went to the cross and bore death “for the joy that was set before him”. (Hebrews 12:12) Even if you believe the crucible awaits you, remember that Jesus knows how you feel and he is waiting to accompany you, personally, through the coming hurdles - he will show you how to find joy.
YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER
Father,
We want to rejoice like David did. He suffered from doubt and fear, and we do too, but like David, we can choose to rejoice in the moment you have given us. We missed opportunities this summer, and we know that the hurry and frustration of Fall could lead to some sinful outbursts. But we trust that our salvation is not reliant upon our performance. Help us, Lord, to stop trying to find a bright side to the situations we regret and anticipate, and to focus instead on the bright center of our worship: Jesus Christ. Help us tonight to forget about tomorrow and yesterday, both of which are taking away our peace and our rest. We can never satisfy ourselves. Help us, Lord, to experience the true joy of your presence in this moment, which is the only thing that can satisfy. Give us, by your Holy Spirit, the faith to declare meaningfully that in this moment of rest, your presence fills us.
Amen.
THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE UPON
1. Ask yourself why your Summer bucket list is so important. What does your regret betray about the value you place on that list? A sense of awe in the presence of natural wonders and gratitude for the ability to enjoy life are both healthy and right. Make sure that your awe and gratitude are directed at God, the one who deserves all the glory and praise for those mountains and lakes you like to explore.
2. If there is regret, you might also need to address a conflict with someone or an action that caused pain. Is this guilt you feel? Let the Lord lead you towards repentance.
3. If the Fall is making you anxious, there could be steps you need to take right now to mitigate the issue. Consider giving your kids a choice: karate or gymnastics, not both. Get everyone to help with dinner and cleaning instead of taking on all the jobs yourself. Install a special light in the house that can help fight against SAD. Let close friends know your struggles so they can help. You might find that they also need your support in the same way. Work together to focus on God’s promises and comfort through Jesus.
Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/Johannes Plenio
Now that you've prayed, are you in need of someone to pray for YOU? Click the button below!
