The Dailyness of Grace

I was praying through the Lord's Prayer today, using it as a line by line launch to help me pray for the day. And then incredible Word of God! I do this most days yet verse 11 in Matthew 6 leaped out at me. It spoke to my soul with a fresh and needed revelation. It says,

Give us today our daily bread.

Two times in 6 words, the dailyness of our requests is mentioned. Jesus was intentional with His Words. Here He tells us to focus on what we need for the day. 

Today. The one and only, here and now is what we have, what we live in. The Present. Who knows about tomorrow? Yesterday is gone.

Not that we don't need to prayerfully plan ahead. And the past does contribute to the needs of today. But it is His day by day encouragement, wisdom, grace, guidance and so much more we need, to help us navigate through life. It is what we need to be reminded of as we seek to learn to do life His way. Left to ourselves, our default is not so great.

I also read this morning (do you think God is trying to tell me something here?) a little Henri Nouwen. He said, 

"Mostly we have just enough light to see the next step: what we have to do in the coming hour or following day. The art of living is to enjoy what we can see and not complain about what remains in the dark.  When we are able to take the next step with the trust that we will have enough light for the next step that follows, we can walk through life with joy and be surprised at how far we go." 

Life is a step by step process. One day at a time. Twelve step recovery programs have discovered the great secret of living this way. In fact the very name of the program reflects the importance of this. Those who learn to do this well, find themselves on a healing path. The truth is we are all in need of recovery and this particular "art of living" is something we all can practice and grow from. 

This is nothing new. The children of Israel were only given enough manna (their food) for the day. If they tried to hoard more for later, it rotted. Yet day by day there was enough. There was no need for them to take more than they needed for each day. Check out Exodus 16. What a stark way for them to learn this lesson. 

From the Nouwen quote I was convicted that worry is a form of complaint. Jesus, in Luke 12, used a bit of irony with His followers and said, "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" 

God knows what we need and when we need it. He wants us trust Him and realize worry is a needless, futile exercise. Truth be known, we can't deal with what is around the corner yet because there are things that will be in play we aren't even aware of now. We need to leave our tomorrows in His capable hands.

God help me focus on seeking You for the Light I need for the present day. Each day. Help me strive to live a life of faith and gratitude. Thank you for the enough you give me. Help me remember daily,

The faithful love of the LORD never ends!

His mercies never cease.

Great is His faithfulness;

His mercies begin afresh each morning.

Lamentations 3:22-23

Irrational Love

I was reading in Luke 6 today, the Beatitudes. Pondering the wisdom to be found there. Jesus is surrounded by people who needed healing, people who wanted answers. People like us. They came in throngs. Jesus  spoke, addressing His disciples, yet within earshot of the crowd, and carefully explained the realities of life in God's Kingdom. This kingdom life is the new reality He came to bring us. In it, He replaces our sadness and heartache, our bankrupt souls (our physical, spiritual and emotional poverty), our hunger and our thirst, our questing and questioning, with the life we all yearn for. 

Some call it the great exchange. This exchange isn't an even one. He gives us everything. We only bring ourselves. Tattered, worn and broken as we are, we are invited to come. He declares the Kingdom of God is ours! Satisfaction. Laugher and joy. He says our reward in heaven is great. Yet it begins here and now; we only need to receive it and live it out. The Message version of Luke 12:29-32 puts it beautifully when Jesus says,

“What I’m trying to do here is get you to relax, not be so preoccupied with getting so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way He works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how He works. Steep yourself in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Don’t be afraid of missing out. You’re My dearest friends! The Father wants to give you the very kingdom itself.

Steeping ourselves in Him is the thing, because back to Luke 6, Jesus goes on and tells His disciples, to love and pray for our enemies. Of course this goes for His modern day followers too. Whoa. That's not easy. It seems a stark transition from the feel good beatitudes to loving our enemies.

But I think the transition is intentional. Operating out of His provision is the only way loving and praying for our enemies is possible. Joyful, satisfied, kingdom life is where we find it within ourselves to do this. Too often we try to do these things on our own. And on our own, even with the best of intentions, we soon loose steam and fail. 

Living His kingdom way, we understand more and more how deeply we are cherished, noticed, heard, seen, and loved by God. It slowly sinks in; we are beloved children of God. Knowing this, we have more capacity to extend this kind of irrational love even to our enemies. We give as we are given. Jesus set the example when He came, lived, and died for us when we didn't deserve it one bit. This is the kind of love the world sits up and takes notice of. This is the kind of love God's kingdom is characterized by.

I am reminded of John 15 where Jesus tells us He is the Vine we are to cling to, abide in. In order to accomplish anything, we must stay connected to Him, day by day. For me that begins with reading and praying through bits of the Bible, daily, so my heart and mind are reshaped, to help me grasp the greatness of God's love. This is the secret of kingdom living. God help me continue to cling to You, the Vine, my Savior in order to receive and then extend Your grace and love to those around me.