One Worn-Out Puppy

Waking up this morning to begin a fairly busy week of ministry, my first duty was the life-changing, soul-stirring, high impact task of… turning off all the outdoor Christmas lights.  Three pulls of the plugs and the front of the house and all the shrubs went black and then I was off to conquer some Monday morning Kingdom terrain. Arriving at the office I then proceeded to shoot some video outtakes for the television ministry before the normal office noise – phones ringing, drawers opening and shutting, people chatting – ensued.  Glancing at my itinerary for the week I had a momentary urge to run back home and crawl back into the bed so as to escape my obligations.  Yes, it’s Monday – and a Monday during Christmastime at that.  Truth be known, I’m one worn-out puppy today. My work ethic sagging, my heart less-than-resolved and my will vacillating…I realized that I should throw the brakes on and do the most important thing before I attempted anything else.

“…praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.” – Ephesians 6:18 {ESV}

Monday’s are an easy day for us to acknowledge that we don’t have what it takes on our own to accomplish the will of God.  Whether you are an attorney, a ditch-digger, a work-at-home-mom or a missionary, I hope you are convinced that God has hardwired your Monday in such a way that you are to conclude that you must function in a strength that is not your own.  You’re not supposed to have the appropriate resources.  You’re not designed to rise to the fullness of others’ expectations of you.  God doesn’t expect you to slice through all that opposes you like a Ninja fueled by six shots of Starbucks espresso.  Here’s something that you may have forgotten recently:

God doesn’t mind it when you are weak, tapped out, tired and uncertain.  This doesn’t frustrate Him.  It provides an incredible opportunity for Him to work.

Today I hope you will remember joyfully that you and I are not essential.  Some things depend on us but the big picture never has.  God has apportioned us some things to do and then He promises to empower us to accomplish those very things.  He expects no more of you and He has never called anyone to be a superstar.  Are you a mom who is responsible for little ones today?  Do what you can and leave what you can’t do undone.  You who work in the corporate world and find yourself distracted by all of the peripheral stuff going on during this season should take ten minutes in quietness and read a Psalm or two followed by some simple prayer to God to help you focus so that you faithfully discharge your duties.  Some of you have the holiday blues and EVERYTHING feels overwhelming; plant a big flag right there in the large mound of your unreliable emotions and declare to God that you’re struggling right now.  I promise that He will not be offended.  He has always cared for you and your weakness is no barrier to His available grace.  Perhaps a handful of you are at odds with someone and you are fearful about taking steps of vulnerability to seek restoration.  It’s hard work to make relationships strong but I encourage you to be empowered by what your Savior said and do the right thing as you obey His words in Matthew 5:23-25, “If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.”

Whatever this day or week requires of you, please just don’t go at it alone.  If you are living in the will of God then, I promise, your day and week are far to significant for you to go at it on your own.  You need His presence.  His power is essential.  Don’t feel the pressure to “go and get the power of God” because it doesn’t work that way.  You can’t get the power of God…you may only receive it.  How is this accomplished?  It is simple in essence – you stop right where you are, humbly acknowledge your need, confess your desire to do what is best and right, request of God His powerful aid and then trust by faith that you now have received what you have asked.  He is honored in that you have asked.  He is pleased with your dependence.  He is glorified in your reliance upon Him.

God loves it when we need Him and this is too important of a day for us to pretend that we don’t.