Passed by a church bulletin board one day that pleaded, "Spring...Spring...Spring...Please!" If you live in the northern hemisphere, you know the feeling...and so now that spring is "officially" here, you are feeling great, grand, victorious, energetic, happy, spiritual, full of joy and peace....and pardon me, did you say you are down-in-the-dumps? Huh?
Welcome to the real world...where calendar dates and events don't necessarily change our moods, fix our problems, or bring about our peace. Sure, it's a sunny day--but you look out your window and see the leaves from fall you've not yet picked up; you peek at your kids' rooms and see the clothes not picked up; you peer deep into your soul and see the mess not cleaned up. And you feel far from Spring in YOUR life this day. Why? Because you are human--and in our humanity lies every mood from mad--to bad--to sad--to glad--no matter what the season change may be.
Griping days happen to us all--spring or no spring--and when they do, what do we do?? We go out into the yard of life, find the viper hiding underneath those fall leaves, give HIM the Word of the Lord--tell him, "Good riddance!" and then go on with life! You see, that viper is out to get us all--if we let him. If he can't guide you into hell, he'll try to gripe you into ghosttown--where past memories, present madness and future monsters lie. He'll trick you into doubting yourself and your God--he's a master of deceit, discouragement and despair. He likes to slither around my back yard, how about yours?!?
He did it to EVE in her back yard--the Garden--and we're no different! Oh, perhaps a little fatter, a little older, and hopefully, a little more clothed...grin.....but we are ALL daughters of Eve, sons of Adam--and we have to face the same viper they did....But we don't face him in failure; we face him in faith--head-on in the Name of the Lord, the conquering Savior who has already bruised the serpent's head. He's won the war--and so will we, as we let Him, the Victorious One, rule over the Viprous One, deep within our own personal hearts and lives!
God can turn your griping into gladness today. CHOOSE to be glad in the Lord! "Now hear us loud and clear, vicious viper. Slither away! We will live this day in the JOY of the Lord--for 'This is the day the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad!'"
Now believe it--bring out the flowers and celebrate SPRING--it's a great day to be alive and to serve the Lord!
Delight in a Word from the Well--a refreshing in the Water of His Word
"Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me?
Hope in God; for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God." (Psalm 43:5 KJV).
Draw from the Well--a prayer for renewing strength for this day
"Lord, it's springtime outside, but not in my heart today. The worries of life are wearing me out and weighing me down. Bring springtime to my soul today--help me to look up, to be "glad in the Lord," and to know You are the Victorious One in my life today--and every day, In Jesus' Name, Amen."
