You will notice a lack of scripture in today's lead in. The verse included with today's reading from Daily Strength for Daily Needs is Galatians 6:16. I have chosen not to include it because there is a pronoun referent that makes it a bit unclear. Even the commentaries could not agree. However, the excerpt from Havergal's writing was thought provoking, so I have included it. Although not scripture, I feel it was surely inspired by the Holy Spirit.
Begin at once; before you venture away from this quiet moment, ask your King to take you wholly into His service, and place all the hours of this day quite simply at His disposal, and ask Him to make and keep you ready to do just exactly what He appoints. Never mind about to-morrow; one day at a time is enough. Try it to-day, and see if it is not a day of strange, almost curious peace, so sweet that you will be only too thankful, when to-morrow comes, to ask Him to take it also,—till it will become a blessed habit to hold yourself simply and "wholly at Thy commandment for any manner of service." The "whatsoever" is not necessarily active work. It may be waiting (whether half an hour or half a life-time), learning, suffering, sitting still. But shall we be less ready for these, if any of them are His appointments for to-day? Let us ask Him to prepare us for all that He is preparing for us.
F.R. Havergal (1836-1879) Hymn writer and Christian author
"Quite simply" is a marvelous phrase for the Christian life. A Christian's attitude should be "quite simple". Whatever God's will for this hour, this day, this week, this year--those are your marching orders. "Not my will, but thine be done." Period. End of story. Finite. The actual living out of His will may be fraught with struggles, perils and challenges, but the spiritual attitude is one of simplicity- His will only.
Are we "ready" to do God's will. Havergal had italicized "ready". When I reread that particular sentence, Roxy, our dog came to mind. Roxy is a big, tail-wagging, fur-shedding canine that loves to play fetch. A stick on a pond. A tennis ball in the backyard. A Kong at the dog park. If you throw it, she will bring it back.
But it is the "ready" part of fetch that came to mind. When I take her Kong to the backyard, Roxy knows it's time. It's canine high-alert. Ears up. Eyes riveted. Muscles coiled. She is ready!
Do we have that same sense of readiness when it comes to God's will for this hour or this day? Are we all a-quiver with anticipation about how God will use us today? Are our spiritual ears up? Do we have our eyes glued to God's plan for our day? I daresay that our B.G.D. (big goofy dog) is more in love with her Kong than most Christians are with God's plan for their hour/day/life.
Eager readiness, not ho-hum resignation. Focused anticipation, not vague awareness. Let's be ready. Coiled. Desirous. Enthused.
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