You would think after doing something enough times you would get used to it, or at least accept it, but trash day just annoys me. It happens on Sunday evening: the reminder on my phone goes off, “Take trash out,” and I immediately roll my eyes. You’d think someone had just given me bad news. Maybe it’s just the bother of the whole event. You’re tired, you’re getting ready for the week ahead (especially if you’re a parent), and then “Oh yeah…the TRASH!”
This past Sunday evening, my wife reminded me—which is a good thing because I had ignored the phone reminder—and I begrudgingly walked out into the cold garage. I started with all the bags from the house and brought the can around to the front of the house. Then I looked against the wall and there was all the cardboard that had started to accumulate from the Christmas gift orders that were streaming in. I looked not just at the number of boxes that needed to be broken down, but the size of the boxes, and started thinking about how long this was going to take me. And then it hit me. I have a nifty electric box cutter I got for Christmas last year! I grabbed my tool and started in. It made quick work of the brown boxes that had become a “tribute to Amazon.” It’s funny, with the right tools things can go from bad and annoying to good and enjoyable.
“Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.” —Joshua 1.8 NLT
The box cutter changed my circumstances. It enabled me to engage the task and be successful. My attitude was different and I was drawn into the moment. Scripture is very similar. God gifted us with His word so that we may “prosper and succeed” in all we do. But we have to study it continually and “meditate on it day and night” so that we can be faithful to God and all He has said.
Without the word, though, we get stuck; we find ourselves bogged down and annoyed with life. But with the word, we are freed to serve God with joy and purpose. I encourage you today to take up God’s most gracious gift of His word and prosper. Watch and witness how God will draw you into all manner of things to accomplish for His kingdom.
—Pastor Whit