Praise you, Lord Jesus, for your persistent presence in my life, for your perfect plan, your gracious goodness and your wise words you share with me.
Thank you that you have laid out a race before me, a person-specific race. Thank you that you’ve equipped me to run this, giving me gifting, experience, growth and grace to move through whatever challenges it brings, whether it be Barbara’s unending, debilitating depression, difficult renters, opposition to my witness or five broken tractors.
Thank you for your goals in this race, some of which are:
–giving me opportunity to play a significant role in your overall plan;
–giving me the chance to bring honor to your name, multiple times every day;
–exposing my sins and the unnecessary weights I unknowingly carry, so I can repent and jettison them;
–giving opportunities to mature as you move me through successive challenges;
–and in the midst of those to be an example to believers, as well as a witness to unbelievers;
–giving me multiple chances every day to offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving and thereby honor you by obedience and trust;
–to please you through faith, and thereby overcome the world.
With this perspective, my life goes from being one long series of unwanted problems to be endured, to joining you in one adventure after another. In this I get to see your power, your grace, your goodness and your loving provision multiple times every day, often every hour. And all this is part of your purpose for my life: allowing me to bring more glory and honor to your Name. What a great and good God you are!
Help me to live in this light, Lord, to persistently join you in what you are doing, to very frequently check in to make sure I’m on course with you, and to consistently choose to live the truth that Knowing Jesus is Enough for Joy!
