DAY THIRTEEN~ Invitation to Live Humbly

Scripture~ Romans 12:1-2 (The Message)

“So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.”

My Lesson~ I reached into my coat pocket to pull out a cheerio, which had been stashed several days ago. (I’m sure it’s stale to the point that if it were you or I offered this “O”, we would quickly decline.) Bella looks at me with her little brown eyes, pleased with her obedience to my training command, and equally pleased with what she knows I’m reaching for. She enthusiastically grabs the little treat out of my hand for a job well done. This tiny, ordinary piece of cereal is treated like an Olympic gold medal each and every time it’s offered. What I see as ordinary -- she sees as a great reward. 

Gulp-- yet another lesson God is teaching me through my pup. I’m going to be honest with you; for a few days now, “ordinary” feels like a deep pit that I can’t seem to crawl out of. I feel stuck as if my life isn’t going anywhere and all the mundane tasks that take up my 24 hours seem so inconsequential. I think I want to do BIG THINGS of God, but complain about even the smallest of tasks I’m given. I argue, “but anyone can do this God. I want a different assignment!” 

God has nudged me to stop focusing on my circumstances and instead look up! 

I remembered the passage above and it brings me great joy and peace -- the two themes for Advent that I’ve been meditating on -- to realize that God can change ordinary into extraordinary when placed in His hand. I can offer this day and all its ho-hum-ness to Him and trust that He can and will bring about His purposes in it. If there’s some way that I can honor Him in my words, actions, thoughts or deeds… then you know what? This ordinary life of mine suddenly turns into a beautiful sanctuary where I can dwell with Him. Hmm, it’s not so ordinary after all, is it?!     

Prayer~ Oh, Lord, when I’m tempted to complain about my lot in life, help me remember You, who has called me to it. You have me here for a reason and I pray that You would help surrender my desires to You. May you be glorified today. I know I can only do that through Your strength, so help me walk instep with You. Give me Your eyes to see, Your ears to hear, and Your heart to love as You want me to. In Christ’s name, Amen.    

Invitation~ Make today extraordinary by embracing today’s ordinary tasks and placing them in His hands. Remember that when you walk in step with Him… He will lead you to the very place He wants you to be.