The Blessings

Numbers 11:5-6 – We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost—also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna! (NIV)

Today was like any other day: get up, get showered, get dressed, let the dogs out, feed the dogs, refill the water bowls, have breakfast, clean the dog run, vacuum the house, walk the dogs, go to my boring job, come home, feed the horses, clean the corral, have supper, watch television, go to bed—just the same old, same old. How incredibly boring is my life was my nagging mental refrain. And then, I remembered the Israelites and the manna story, which really didn't end well at all when God rained down the quail that they were begging for, and a great many of them died because God's anger burned against them for their discontent with what He had so graciously provided. Mmm! Now this gave me something to think about and ultimately changed my own attitude toward my everyday blessings. For indeed, the same old, same old are blessings from God which rain down anew every day, something which I see and am thankful for when I have the right attitude—an attitude like the one Paul encouraged the Colossians to embrace when he said:

Colossians 3:23-24 – Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. (NIV)

Tomorrow, as I rise and begin my same old, same old chores yet again, I intend to be thankful for them. I intend to get back on the grateful track by choosing to view them as the blessings from above which they are—opportunities to serve and to care for others, myself, and the things that God has given to bless, sustain, and encourage me. I intend to perform them with all my heart, as working for the Lord. Somehow, as I do so, I expect that my day might not be so humdrum after all!

Prayer: Father God, thank You for the opportunity to consider ourselves as working for You while doing our everyday chores with all our hearts—an opportunity which when embraced has the power to turn the humdrum aspects of our lives into spiritual food for our souls. In Christ's name, we pray. Amen.