February-Already?
Can you believe that January, 2015 is almost over already?! Has the newness of starting the year started to wear off? Maybe this is a good time to be reminded of who we are and why we are on this earth: “We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Eph. 2:10)
This scripture packs a punch, doesn’t it? In the midst of doing life, we can find ourselves feeling overwhelmed with the responsibilities of daily living. Maybe we even longingly contemplate how we can slow down the “roller coaster” that we have found ourselves riding. And then this scripture comes along to challenge us to keep the main thing the main thing.
In times like these, I am reminded of King David who gave his soul a pep talk. Yes, he talked to himself. Before you start to chalk that up to insanity, let me give you what he said in the Psalms," Why so downcast O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation." (NKJV, Ps. 42.5) Do you think he wrote that after a day of homeschooling Absalom?! Ha!
Seriously, in the midst of the January blues, we can, and should, remind ourselves that our hope, our sanity, our fulfillment, does not come from the paycheck that we receive each month or even the affirmation our spouse may give us. Our daily hope and grace comes from our relationship in Jesus Christ. Like David, we praise Him for being the source of help not only for ourselves, but for our marriages, our children, and our church family. Our church and family relationships are one of the ways we are daily reminded of our need to look to God, because in our weakness, He is made strong. (NIV, II Cor. 12.9-12)
As we press on in to what the Spirit is saying for 2015, let me encourage you to look to the Source of all strength. Ask Him to remind you of the joy of your salvation. Go ahead and give yourself a pep talk. (Maybe you will even need to encourage another Believer with your own hope.) As I write this, I will be reminding myself to relish each day for it is a continued opportunity for me to lean on Christ and allow Him to continue to equip our family for His glory. ~Niki
