How often do you feel your day is not going as planned? I’ve felt that way lots of times. There are days when I feel overwhelmed at the altar of the “to-do” list, then beat myself up because I just cannot figure a way to do all I have assigned myself. I have actually gone to bed some nights frustrated and feeling like I wasted an entire day.
I had one of those over-ambitious days recently, and it proved to be invitation into the classroom of the Almighty. I don’t know if anyone else can relate to this but if so, here is the wisdom my Father God shared with me.
In the middle of a particularly stressful day when I just seemed to be hitting brick walls on everything I put my hand to (except of course addressing and diminishing my stash of Girl Scout cookies), I threw my hands in the air in an act of surrender. Convinced I was doomed to terminally fun-less living, I said, “I give up, nothing is working here. The universe is conspiring against me and I am spinning out of control into the failure abyss.”
I decided maybe I should take the problem to God. I wish I could say it was in the form of prayer but it was more in the form of complaint. I tried to read my Bible – no dice – fragmented brain syndrome. I attempted dialogue with God – nothing doing – guilt for what I “should be doing” crept on me like humidity in the Florida Everglades.
In exasperation, I looked up to the ceiling and said, “I am trying so hard Lord but this is just not my day.”
I fell silent long enough to hear Him respond, “No, it is not your day. It is my day, and I have given it to you. I love you and I want you to have the best day possible. So, daughter, if it is not working for you perhaps it is because you are not allowing me to work through you.”
I sat there for a moment, waiting for this truth to dawn on me and then heard the song and Scripture in my head, “This is the day that the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.” (PS 118:24 NLT).
I ran to my computer to look in my music folder. I found the song on a children’s worship CD I use when teaching little ones to praise God in dance. I loaded it up and turned up the volume. Then I began to twirl and swirl in the dance I learned/teach to this catchy, uplifting little tune.
Yes, I admit it. In the middle of my living room, surrounded by the little pieces of paper encouraging me to believe I am a human doing and not a human being, I just danced with, to and for Him.
Boy, howdy, when God wants to teach us something in our heart, He uses our heart to teach. Dance, as you know beloveds, is my heart. So off we went, God leading and me following along to words on a CD recorded by little children singing out their praises to God.
When I sat down, I giggled and I thought, “This must be what you mean by us coming to you as little children. That was great Daddy. Can we do it again?”
And so we did. And while dancing, I figured it out. If I walk into each day asking God what He wants me to do, I will always go to bed feeling like I have accomplished what I was supposed to accomplish. If something does not get done, it was not meant to get done. Ah, what a relief.
Now I don’t mean to tell anyone else how to live. But just give this a try friends. Get out of bed and while you are brushing your teeth, starting the coffee or even just putting on your robe and slippers, look up and say, “This just isn’t my day God. It’s yours.”
Then ask, “What do You have in mind?” Maybe it will be to dance, or do your favorite form of play, and laugh with Him. And you know what? That’s going to be more than enough. You just might find it is indeed your day after all.
Copyright February 2017
Laura L. Padgett
Lakewood, Colorado
Connect with me on Twitter @lauraleepadgett or my Facebook Author Page
Check out the books I have published:
“Dolores, Like the River,” available at Westbow Press, Barnes & Noble, Amazon and all major online retailers.
The award-winning “Jesus in Shorts: Twenty-five Shorts Stories of Life-Changing Jesus Moments,” available now at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
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