Strength for Today

I've been meaning to post this for a few days now and just haven't gotten around to doing it. For one thing, being vulnerable on a blog is easier since it's not out loud and feels much like writing in a journal, but harder because I'm opening that journal up for anyone to see. In an electronic form of communication I'm always afraid it's more difficult to express yourself since people can't see your face and hear your voice. I hope that any posts I write about faith and what I'm learning don't come across as "preachy." Please know, I'm not writing this because I have the answers about it, but only because I'm struggling through the process of learning it myself.

Lately I've been reading, A Godward Life, by John Piper. What I love about it is that each chapter is a few pages long, and on differing topics, so it reads like a devotional book. I love Piper's writing. Even though it's concise, it is also full of wisdom and theological truth that my mind goes back to throughout the day. If I ever live in Minneapolis, we will probably go to his church, Bethlehem Baptist-even though we consider ourselves Presbyterians :)!

A few days ago I read pgs 25-27 titled "Today's Mercies for Today's Troubles" and I have reflected on it since. During this period of changing jobs and uncertainty in front of us, it has been a firm foundation for me. I wanted to share it since so many of my friends and fellow bloggers are in stressful times as well. The main scripture is Matthew 6:34 "Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." The surrounding verses Matt 6:25-34 are also excellent: ""Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

Piper says "Often we feel like our reservoir of strength is not going to last for another day. The fact is, it won't. Today's resources are for today, and part of those resources is the confidence that new resources will be given tomorrow." As Lamentations 3:22-23 states "Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Piper's description is "God's mercies are new every morning because each day has enough mercy in it only for that day. This is why we tend to despair when we think that we may have to bear tomorrow's load on today's resources. God wants us to know that we won't. Today's mercies are for today's troubles. Tomorrow's mercies are for tomorrow's troubles."

His final point reminds us of the Israelites and God's daily provision of manna. Each Israelite was instructed to take as much as was needed for that day. If they tried to save it for the next day the manna was rotten and full of maggots. If today I think how will I make it through tomorrow, next week, next month, etc...I can't get through tomorrow on what God has given me today. I have to wait for the mercies/strength/manna that He will provide for me tomorrow to face the tasks of that day.

How well He knows us (me). We are (I am) too independent left to our own choosing and pride. We have been created for a continual need and dependence on Him each day, every day. Thank you Lord that you know not only tomorrow, but also every day. That when the time arises, you provide the strength needed for that day, even if I don't have that strength today-because I don't need it today. In a sense, when we feel we can't face what the next day holds, that's a correct thought. We can't face what the next day holds until that day. Help me to use what you have given me today to the fullest. May I be expended at the end of each day, not trying to hold your strength and mercies in reserve-that it would necessitate dependence on you as I wake each morning.