Live for Today

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. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore, I will wait for him.”                                                       Lamentations 3:22-24 (NIV)

The mercies of God flow like a river.  He loves us so much that he does not engage us according to our sins and flaws.  He engages us in the light of His great love for us, and the sacrifice of His son Jesus.  He is always in the position of urging us to come to Him.  God wants us to come into the enlightenment of His love that brings with it a refreshing newness in our souls and brightness to our troubles.  His compassion and understanding of our plight in this world are only rivaled by His ability to forgive us and not charge us with the penalties we really deserve.

Yesterday is dead.  It cannot be re-engaged or re-lived.  It only has life when we ponder and think of it.  The key to overcoming yesterday is to use the lessons in it and discard the unprofitable portions of it.  Our minds are precious commodities.  We can fill it with despairing, discouraging thoughts, or we can fill it with life lessons, love, and knowledge gained from positive sources.  We can take the negative experiences we encounter and glean from them the life message of hope that it has come to teach us.  How do troubles teach us hope? Difficulty points us to our faithful God who can provide us with light in the darkness, and clear paths for our feet.  It teaches us that days without trouble are to be cherished and enjoyed.  That, instead of lamenting over yesterday, we should rejoice in today.  Today comes packed with new opportunities.

When we are cast down, we are not forsaken.  When trouble abounds, we must learn from it and embrace the hope God gives us in scripture that joy will come in the morning. A new year, new month, a new day, and even a new hour all arrives with the hope of His word.  They arrive with new mercies and more grace.  They arrive with the refreshing knowledge that Christ has come so we can live.  This hope brings with it a certainty that no weapon will prosper when it presents itself.  This hope offers eternal life and rest.  Every new minute that passes is packed with the promise of never being alone because Christ is with us and never leaves or forsakes us.

So, rest today, from the time you started reading this devotional until this very word, new mercies and more grace have been placed in your path. “The Lord is my portion; therefore, I will wait for Him.”