Learning to Enjoy Good Gifts without Guilt - Your Nightly Prayer - July 23rd

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Learning to Enjoy Good Gifts Without Guilt
Your Nightly Prayer
by Peyton Garland

TONIGHT'S SCRIPTURE

“For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving.” - 1 Timothy 4:4

SOMETHING TO PONDER

When you come from an unhealthy fundamentalist background as I do, everything—everything—is placed on a balancing scale. Did I spend more time putting on makeup than reading my Bible? That’s idolatry. Did I enjoy ____ secular film more than ____ Christian film? That’s a heart problem. By the time I was a young teen, I had learned to hate life. Since everything outside the church posed as a potential idol, I believed it best to disengage from nearly everything. Sadly, this meant that I missed out on the everyday beauty God grants in the ordinary moments. It took years for me to discover that these simple things are gifts meant for my enjoyment. How can this be true? Because God delights in His creation. God longs to give His children good things (Matthew 7:9-11).

When my husband and I have a date night, it’s honestly because we need a break. We need adult conversation without kiddos running through the living room demanding another yogurt pouch. But the moment we are away from them, meandering through a store, they are all we can talk about. We end up buying them gifts rather than ourselves. Why? Because our children bring us joy, joy that isn’t defined by their performance, but by their identity. They are ours. And that means everything to us.

God is no different… well, only different in that His love for us is perfect. His ability to grant us joy is perfect. Those are differences I certainly can’t compete with. But in this near parenting parallel, I now better understand that I’m allowed to see heaven in the daffodils that bloom in my yard. I’m allowed to see heaven in the deep brown hue of my oldest son’s eyes. I’m allowed to see heaven in that first sip of iced Earl Grey tea, in that belly laugh from a friend’s joke, and in that quiet walk around the park. I’m not only allowed to see heaven, but I’m begged to see it.

God doesn’t create anything without a purpose, and to ignore His everyday creation is to do a disservice to his handiwork. It’s to ignore that He is both good and omnipresent. On earth, Jesus enjoyed meals, visited friends, and participated in Jewish feasts. He laughed, sang, and danced. He lived a full, good, rich human life to show us a mere glimpse of the eternal life He promises in heaven. He gives us reason after reason to find joy and hope in this world, even though it’s subject to the curse. There are bits of heaven everywhere, reminding us of who has the final say when all is said and done. Find joy in these bits and pieces. Let the gospel live in your ordinary moments. Let God’s beauty have the final say.

YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER

Father,
May I remember that because you are both good and everywhere, I can find goodness anywhere. Thank you for your grace, for giving me joy and hope, though I am a sinner in desperate need of your mercy. May I rest in this undeserved favor you lavish on me by rejoicing in and thanking you for the beauty I get to enjoy. I love you, Lord.
Amen.

THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE UPON

Take a few moments to prayerfully consider how you’ve ignored God’s everyday joy. Have you let work, a strained relationship, or an overpacked schedule keep you from pausing to soak in God’s goodness? Give this inhibitor over to God, asking for His eyes to see His beauty.
Jot down 3-5 simple, wholesome things that bring you joy. Maybe it’s walking your dog, picking fresh flowers, or visiting the farmer’s market. Keep this list on hand as you challenge yourself to savor these things and actively thank God for them.
Consider how you can share everyday joy with others. Is there a barista you could offer a smile to? A friend you could invite to a pottery class or out for coffee? A family member you could share a good laugh with?

Reflect on tonight’s prayer and share how God met you there. Join the Your Nightly Prayer discussion on the Crosswalk Forum.
Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/Fernando Brasil

Peyton Garland is an author, editor, and boy mama who lives in the beautiful foothills of East Tennessee. Subscribe to her blog Uncured+Okay for more encouragement.

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