Max Lucado wrote a powerful daily affirmation I want to explore to help us prepare for communion. We will look at three major pillars of truth we can control in this mantra:
“Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. To these, I commit my day. If I succeed, I will give thanks. If I fail, I will seek his grace. And then, when this day is done, I will place my head on my pillow and rest.”
First, he commits his day to, “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” What does he do if he succeeds? If I succeed, I will what?
A. Create an Instagram shrine dedicated to my accomplishments?
B. Hastily move on to the next item of concern forgetting God’s blessings?
Nope, I'll just humble myself and give thanks. I will make it clear Christ is in control.
Jesus is the hand, and I am the glove. I can’t, but He can. I will learn to let him.
Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. To these, I commit my day. If I succeed, I will give thanks. If I fail, I will seek his grace. And then, when this day is done, I will place my head on my pillow and rest.
We give him thanks for his success. What do I do if I fail? If I fail, I will:
A. Wallow in a nice big warm pool of self-pity
B. Question my life choices, or
C. Blame the dog (or cat) for my misfortune.
Nope, If I fail I will seek his grace. After all, even the dog and cat deserve a break!
What is His grace? Undeserved favor from God. Undeserved kindness from God
Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. To these, I commit my day. If I succeed, I will give thanks. If I fail, I will seek his grace. And then, when this day is done, I will place my head on my pillow and rest.
At the end of the day, I will place my head on my pillow, and what?
A, Ruminate on my failures?
B. Overthink what I said that I shouldn’t have said.
Nope. I will place my head on my pillow and rest. Easier said than done, but with His help, we can! Communion is about reflecting on who we are in Christ. We check our hearts. We praise him for victories. We pray for forgiveness. We celebrate his grace. Then we rest in His arms.
Let’s pray: Help us live with this kind of powerful mindfulness and integrity. Jesus helps us focus on life-changing qualities like love, joy, peace, and patience, kindness, and self-control. Father, we recognize that we're all fallible. Help us embrace your grace when we falter so that we might grow into resilient representatives for you. Father, might we be able to rest our heads at night knowing that you rule and are in control?
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