on transcendent mornings and moments

You may already know that I read of book of devotions as part of my morning prayers every day. I find it such a wonderful way to get the day started on the right foot -- with God -- especially if it's one of those mornings after a troubled sleep, or where your mind fills up with worries and anxieties even before you get out of bed!

More and more I know how important it is that I seek God, spend time with Him, every day, and continually throughout the day. To be actively, habitually conscious of God's presence in my life, His providence and His blessings, makes it that much easier to trust to His goodness and faithfulness during challenging times. It is so, so true what it says in Isaiah, I know it from my own experience: "You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You" (Isa 26:3). And indeed -- without fail -- God is faithful to deliver me.

I was speaking with a friend the other day, and she admitted that she only prayed and sought God when she was desperate, or in trouble. I realised as I listened to her that if we do that -- without the foundation of daily experience and fellowshipping with God -- those prayers are somehow more despairing than confident, and are plagued by doubts and fears. It makes it hard for us to have peace during the trial, and feel secure in the knowledge that God hears us, loves us, and cares about us.

"Then you will call upon Me, and you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear and heed you. Then you will seek Me, inquire for, and require Me [as a vital necessity] and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart", says Jeremiah 29:12-14. I know how easy it is to overlook all the good things God does do for us, and focus on all the things we think He should do, but doesn't. Thanking God every morning, and asking Him to guide my thoughts and actions, greatly helps me with my attitude and perspective.

As Proverbs 3:5-7 says, "In all your ways know, recognise, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths".

So -- my book of morning devotions. I read New Day, New You by Joyce Meyer, and I wanted to share this very recent devotion with you. It's entitled Spiritual Nourishment, and is based on Luke 12:22-23: "I tell you, do not be anxious and troubled [with cares] about your life, as to what you will [have to] eat; or about your body, as to what you will [have to] wear. For life is more than food, and the body [more] than clothes".

The devotion reads: "If you have a rich spiritual life, you'll already be satisfied with the moment, the day, the year. We all have these moments at time. You wander through a summer field of fireflies and suddenly feel still and awed at the beauty of it all. You hold your new son or grandson on your lap and you feel a great spiritual bond of love all around you. You're sitting in a pew Sunday morning and the light comes through the stained glass and fills your heart with joy. The moment is complete in itself. You don't think, My heart is full of joy, and boy, do I wish I had a slice of chocolate cake in my hand!

"... In fact, we should all feel those transcendent moments more often than we do. I believe they are essential to physical, emotional and spiritual health. And I think we spend too little time trying to achieve them and too much time meditating on our problems... if we stew in our problems all the time, they are only going to be with us that much more.

"Get your mind off the problems, and spend more time meditating on the one, true solution -- God's love. Our problems in life... should drive us to God, not away from Him... Run to God! He won't just help you find the solutions to your spiritual hunger; He is the solution!" (New Day, New You by Joyce Meyer, p 317).