Now is the time.... To Regain Your Excitement

For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.. Jeremiah 29:11

My alarm was set for 6.30 but at 5.20 the raucous cries of the kookaburras heralded the first light and they were soon joined by a multitude of other birds, all excitedly greeting the new day. It was the excitement of their chatter that got to me and I decided to join them rather than sleep away the first light of the new day.

My mother was an early riser and always said that it was the best time of the day – try telling that to a teenager!! But as I sit looking out on the beauty of God’s world, listening to worship music, I have to agree that it is something special; and now as the sky begins to change from almost colourless to a beautiful shade of blue, the joy and expectation of a new day cannot help but rise within me. I’m so glad I’m not still snoozing!

In the busyness of life it is so easy to lose the sense of excitement and expectation that each day can hold. Instead our minds get overwhelmed by the burdens or drudgery of the day. ‘Stress’ is probably the most used word in our world today. Sadly I have even heard young children using this word. But it’s not surprising because children get caught up in the craziness of their parents’ busy lives as well as having their own full schedule of extra curricular activities. The days of just playing in the yard, a family walk or a quiet swing in the park seem to have mostly gone. I’m so pleased that my own grandchildren still know how to be happy with these simple pleasures.

Taking time to worship the Lord, read the word and talk to him about our concerns is a key to de-stressing. The old hymn said ‘Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care, we should never be discouraged, take it to the Lord in prayer.’ Time in the quiet of the day before the household starts to buzz can be time that restores excitement, anticipation and purpose to your life; all these things can and will work to de-stress you.

God has a purpose and a plan for each of us that will bring us joy and fulfillment. Tune into his heart and draw your daily strength from him along with peace and hope. He is always waiting to fellowship with us.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, giver of abundant life, please help me to come into your presence and seek you early for refreshing and strength for each new day. Amen

Now is the time.... To Do the Taste Test

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in him. Psalm 34:8

The makers of our much-maligned Vegemite have come up with something new; it has been in the stores with no name; the company has been running a competition for someone to come up with a name for it. That’s one way to get people to buy and try! I would have thought that one would have to taste it to come up with some enticing, tasty name but in this day of technology it seems not. The name that won the competition was – you’d never guess it – iSnack 2.0. Since that time there were so many people that objected that it is under review which is good because that name conveys absolutely nothing to me except that if I want to know what it’s like I have to taste it. So it is with God. We have to 'taste' him and his presence to know that he is good.

David, a young lad who went from singing praises to God in the sheepfolds to giant-slayer on the battlefield to king of Israel to ousted monarch and back to the throne again, experienced God in so many different situations. He knew the highs of life but he also knew what it was like to be in the depths of despair. It is he who wrote about the goodness of God to those who trust him. In the midst of singing the praises of his God he cries out “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good”. It was as if he was saying “I can’t really tell you just how good he is, you just have to taste his goodness for yourself”.

How do we taste anything? We have to put it in our mouth and try it. We can’t do that with God of course but we can get to know what kind of a God we have by coming near to him, allowing him to have a say in our lives. By allowing him permission to come and forgive our sins, heal us of our hurts, our sickness; allowing him to give us guidance in our daily lives. We taste him by walking in obedience to his Word and following his way and finding out that it is the best way, the way to life in all its fullness (John 10:10).

Today I needed to ‘taste’ God afresh. For me that meant becoming still in his presence and allowing myself to feel him again. We were worshipping in church and many people were being touched by his spirit, but I felt a little apart from him. That is when I deliberately moved closer, received again his forgiveness and love. He met me.

It’s so easy in the busyness of our world to become a little hardened to his presence unless we make a special effort. We can ‘do Christianity’, we can ‘do church’, but he wants us to move closer so we can feel that refreshing breath of his beautiful presence. Yes, taste and see that the Lord, in all his fullness, is definitely good.

Prayer: Lord thank you that you are close to me even when I can’t feel you. Help me to realise when I need to make that special move towards you and taste again that you are good. Amen