Arise, Shine and Do the Next Thing!

I've recently been reading and enjoying Oswald Chamber's daily devotional book. My Utmost for His Highest was written in 1935 and it is a fantastic devotional. I highly recommend you add this one to your library.   A couple weeks ago, I read "Arise, Shine and Do the Next Thing." The devotional was titled The Initiative Against Drudgery. Initially, I thought I'll take any advice against drudgery.  Life is chocked full of many moments and tasks that if we're not careful we can dread.  So many endless chores and demands of our time can seem like drudgery. When we start to let dread creep into our life, it can cloud vision and harden our hearts. What if we started looking at all our menial or monotonous assignments as a way to grow us spiritually.  If we approach each chore or task with the right heart condition, God can divinely transfigure the drudgery. The Holy Spirit wants us to include him into every aspect of our lives. Ezekiel 36:26 tells us "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh." God is simply calling us to Arise, Shine and Do the Next Thing. 

We can apply this attitude to everything. Arise, Shine, make the bed, walk the dog, empty the litter box. Carry chlorine jugs for Mom, help father-in-law pick out a suit to wear for a church event. All these little chores may seem insignificant but they are not. Arise, Shine mow the yard, pull weeds, fold the clothes...put them away! Arise, Shine and Do the Next Thing; what is the next thing God is calling you to do?  I've learned that God is faithful when I do the next thing that he's ask me to do and not get ahead of him with my own agenda. Enjoy the journey of life by taking life one day at a time. Psalm 46:5 has a promise for all of us, "God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day." God is simply saying, arise, shine and trust me as you continue to do what I've put in front of you to do today.

God can take our most mundane tasks and when we perform them in the light of His love, he transforms us in the process. Isaiah 60:1-3 Tells us to "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you." Jesus has come and his glory is not only upon us but it's on all we put our hands to no matter how big or small the task. Don't loose sight of your significance in your realm of influence. God wants to use us all for his Kingdom. Keep shining and do it all in love.

You are:
HIS Beloved
HIS Child
HIS Workmanship & Masterpiece
HIS Creation
HIS Heir
HIS Friend
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