Quiet Enjoyment

Just for today I will have a quiet half hour all by myself to relax and enjoy all that God is giving me.

Well, here we are flawed human beings who are seeking to find meaning and purpose and joy in our day. Is that realistically something we can hope for given our mistakes and failures?  

It’s good to remind ourselves sometimes that we are not the only people who have failed to trust God and wandered into destructive life habits in some way. In the Bible we read stories of human beings to whom God showed amazing grace and patience. 

Like us, when these persons realized what a mess they had made, they felt sad and guilty about their past behaviour and unworthy to receive God’s forgiveness. 

Though they had often struggled and repeatedly failed, God was gracious to forgive them and restore them to loving relationship with Him so they could enjoy their lives. 

On one such occasion when the people realized how badly they had failed God and were deeply saddened by it all, God amazingly told them this:

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

In this day God has prepared all kinds of good things for you and I to enjoy.  These are days of His blessing if we will be open to receive all that He is giving. 

Maybe we simply need to take time to read God's word and see all the promises God has made to us.  Perhaps we’re turning around from a time of failure and we need to present ourselves to God, let guilt go, and welcome forgiveness.  God has given us today; why not rejoice and be glad in it?

Gracious God, Forgive us for the many times we look past Your gifts and fail to enjoy all that You are giving us.  Help us to pause and notice and give thanks for what You bring to this day.  Thank You for filling our lives with good things.  Amen

Just for today I will have a quiet half hour all by myself to relax and enjoy all that God is giving me.