My everyday life
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God.
Ecclesiastes 3:11-13 (NIV)
I had plans for the next two days. I knew exactly what I needed to get done. It did not get done; and in fact, nothing I had planned was the result of the day. I feel safe in saying that I am not alone in this. I was just glad that something had gotten done, and so I deem the day a success. The best part of the day is that I could feel God’s presence in it. What is more important than getting things done, is to do them with Jesus. I have at times tried to visualize him sitting next to me in the car or that he is looking out my eyes as I do. I still feel the wonder of the presence of Jesus, and yet I still do not know how he does it, I just know that he does. He makes his residence with us by the Spirit; something I cannot touch and feel as of now, and yet I know he is there, as I know the air I breathe is.
We all want to do big things, to make our lives something of value and worth. All children want to be noticed by their parents and will cry until they are; a survival necessity. Even as we grow, we still want to be noticed. You read of how the many men and women of the past have made a giant impact in the lives of others and in our world; and you want to do this as well, but you have no idea how. You judge your worth by what you do or what others see in you. We are not measured by what we own, by what position we hold, or by how much education we have; at least by God. I think that is why so many lives are lost, they do not feel they made an impact or if they do, they feel there is no more they can attain in life. It is so sad to me that they value their lives in this way. How do you value success? What price do you put on each day; on your everyday life?
Paul has said he had learned to take each day as it came and he made the most of it (Philippians 4:12-13 in my own words). No matter what the day holds it offers us an opportunity, and what we make of this opportunity is what is important.
The true gift of God is having him present in our everyday life. We can be happy in all of our circumstances, as long as we stay close by God’s side. I am always looking for his presence in my everyday life. I can find pleasure in the smallest and simplest thing because I know God has touched and blessed it at its making.
There is nothing better than to sit quietly and have coffee with Jesus, to ponder and thank him for the beauty around you, for the opportunities he gives us, for the love he shares. Everyday life is filled with blessings, with lessons, with his presence.
Prayer
What joy you bring me God! I embrace my everyday life with you! In Jesus’s name, Amen.
Study by Anne Gillam
Anne Gillam is a retired Pastor in Grace Communion International, Klamath Falls, Oregon, USA.
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