Did you ever have one of those days? Today was the kind of Monday that defines the groaning "Monday" that society has accepted as the norm. In my line of work, Mondays are typically very busy days that don't leave time to think about whether or not my Monday is dreary. Many of my Monday tasks revolve around collecting information and passing it along to ministry leaders that are waiting to pray and process what's been collected. Today, my bad attitude had me beat before any tasks could begin. I chocked it up to an extra weekend meeting for work and regretfully did not deal with the heart situation that had begun. Somewhere mid morning, God sent me a text from a friend who I try to meet with on a regular basis just for fellowship. Did I want to do lunch on Monday instead of Tuesday this week? Yes! Please! Get me out of this office! We didn't even get to our destination before I started in on everything that was wrong with my day. We visited through lunch and ended in her vehicle outside of my place of work when she asked the inevitable question. "So, what went so wrong that you're having such a bad day?" Hmm... good question..... Well, yesterday the meeting...no, actually the meeting went quite well. This morning....no, today went as well, if not better than other days. Where HAD things gone wrong? I woke up, things were fine, dropped my son off at school in a better than typical mood and on time, which is not a daily occurance. Then, I received a text. After that, things went south. What was the fateful text you might ask? "Praying you can look forward to serving your God today."
I once gave a message at a Vacation Bible School. It was on the Ten Commandments. I told the kids, the ten commandments are not what we need to follow in order to go to heaven. They are basically a mirror used to look at ourselves in light of God's righteousness. We have a dire need for God's grace. It is not an occasional need. It is an every second of every day kind of need. So, what happens when we break a commandment? That is sin. Romans 3:23 says, "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God". I told the kids that sin is like an umbrella that we open up over ourselves, blocking our ability to communicate effectively with God. This umbrella does NOT block the love and grace available from our Heavenly Father. However, it puts our ear plugs in. That same sin, if not dealt with can begin to harden our hearts making the umbrella a thick cement wall. Cement is not impenetrable, just very tough to get through. The hardest part of removing the umbrella or the cement wall is the same. It is to realize that we've put it up.
I do believe that we have an enemy. I believe Satan looks for easy targets. Today, I was that easy target. My thought process when I got the loving and thoughtful text from my mom was that she needn't worry. I could continue the sour attitude that she had seen displayed the day before and have no problem going to work and serving my God today. I thought I could compartmentalize my frustration. However, my self-righteousness proved to be the sin that sprung open the party size umbrella over my heart today.
Thank you Lord for a mom that not only cares enough to pray but believes it makes a difference. Thank you for amazing friends that will listen without judgement and then offer to pray not just for me but with me in the heat of the moment. Most of all, thank you for grace. The moment I went to you in prayer was the moment I realized that I had popped up the umbrella and also the moment that you helped me remove it. Thank you for your unending love. I will need it tomorrow too.
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