Have a good day.

What is a good day?  What is a bad day? 

Yesterday at Port-au-Prince Fellowship (the church I attend) John gave a great message that made me ask myself a lot of questions.  What do I define as a good day?  A day where I can sleep in, go on a run, shower, have air conditioner, read my Bible, have a Starbucks iced coffee (or I guess right now in the US it would be a pumpkin spice latte- however my mind cannot even wrap around being cold and needing something hot), spending time with friends, I do not pass a bad driver, everyone is so kind, I eat a great dinner, get to watch my favorite show, and then fall asleep.  Is that a good day? What about the bad days?  The days when trouble comes, I sleep through my alarm, I don’t get my Starbucks drink, I get behind all of the bad drivers, and… I am sure you get the picture.  (Also, I am referring to how I would define a good and bad day in the United States—Haiti would be a totally different kind of day haha)

Paul tells us in Philippians 4:6-7, “Do not worry about anything, instead pray about everything, tell God your needs, and don’t forget to thank him for the answers. And the peace of God that transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

What does anything mean? A thing of any kind. What does everything mean? All things. All that exist. 

Isaiah 26:3 says, “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts.”  

Isaiah who lived in a time of tremendous turmoil predicted that Godly people would suffer along with everyone else.  However, Isaiah urged them and us to focus on a reality greater than current troubles.  

The Bible says when I am not in perfect peace means I am not trusting in Him. –WOW! That hits hard because I so easily let things and circumstances control my peace, joy, and how I define my day.  But the truth is the Lord is still Lord.  In spite of all these things all the troubles of the world we have overwhelmed victory!

The pastor then asked if there were people who let things of the world, their circumstances, their situations, their feelings define their day.  I was the first to raise my hand. If the kids argue with me throughout day = bad day; if they disobey me = bad day; if I miss my family and friends = bad day.  I let people and my feelings define my day. When the truth is He still reigns, He is sovereign, He is just, He is faithful, and He loves me more than I can comprehend. Why would I let something temporary in this world ruin the joy of my salvation that lasts for eternity!?

How do you define your day?  What is considered a good day? 

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary or lose heart.  In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.” Hebrews 12:1-4