Be Glad In This Day

Psalms 118:24
This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

The other day I was reflecting on all reasons to have a positive outlook when I was approached by a co-worker for the purpose of council on a difficult issue. His circumstances were very challenging and it is safe to say that he was desperate for some assistance. At the time, I did not have the physical resources to accommodate his immediate needs. I felt lead to talk to him about God’s provision and the miracles associated with our faith. We talked about the difference in our attitude when we place our faith in God as opposed to looking to the world for our solutions. It is amazing how much difference there is when we have a smile on our face and confidence in our heart knowing that we have nothing to worry about.

After about 10 minutes of conversation we turned to prayer and agreed to submit everything to the Lord. We chose to trust God to provide, and we also decided to change our countenance from sadness to joy as we believed for an answer. We had no sooner closed our prayer and my friend received notice of a work opportunity that would provide the resources that we had just prayed for.

God already knows the choices we will make in every situation. When we turn from the world and to the Kingdom God is there and faithful to lift our burdens and give us rest. My friend and I shared in the opportunity to watch the Lord fulfill His promise and turn tragedy into triumph. What started out as a bad day, trusting in the world’s provision, turned into a day that we could clearly thank God for.

Every day is the day that the Lord has made and we always have reason to rejoice and be glad. Joshua 24:15 And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve. When we start the day expecting Gods best He is always faithful to provide.

Our Job is to choose, regardless of how things look from the world’s perspective. Our job is to surrender in all things. Our job is to trust, no matter how bad things seem. Our job is to rejoice and be glad because God has already prepared the way for those who trust Him.

Today I will start my day with joy in my heart because I know that God’s Love will not fail me.

Be Blessed in all your days.
Skip McNutt

Liberty – The Absence of Bondage

There is always something special about the early morning. I love to get up early and tap into God’s presence. It seems as though everyone else is asleep and I get to have God all to myself.

This morning I was once again reminded of a powerful scripture that has always been special for me. 2Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. Our liberty is so precious, particularly when we recognize the source of true liberty. We are not only free to embrace liberty in those special moments when God’s manifest presence is so clear, we are privileged to recognize liberty in every waking moment.

As I meditate on the concept of liberty I am seeing liberty as the absence of bondage. I speak for myself when I recognize my own self imposed bondage when my attention turns to what I don’t have. In reality we are blessed with unlimited abundance. Philippians 4:19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Spending time with the Lord is like spending time in complete liberty. All the bondage is gone and there is nothing in this world that can hold back God’s blessings when we simply surrender to His Spirit.

Prayer:
Lord thank you for your presence, for your Spirit, and for your liberty. Thank you for your provision in every area of my life. Thank you for removing the burden of my own efforts to lift the weight of my daily challenges.

I give it all to you. I trust you, and I will share with others the gifts that you have so freely given.

Lord bless all you read this message and wrap them in the liberty that only you can provide.
Amen.

Be Blessed in all of you doing.
Skip McNutt