Monday, July 18, 2011

Strength For Today

I heard a homeless man pray Wednesday morning and what he said was profound. I am ashamed to say that I don’t even know his name, but his words have resonated with me the last few days.

As he prayed for the biscuit and random articles of clothing, bags, socks, etc. he was preparing to receive in the mid-July early morning Georgia heat, he asked that God would “be with me on this journey…. today.” Not that profound you say?

I often think of, and many times refer to, my life as a journey. We’ve all heard it said before… life is a journey not a destination. I fully expected that man to say “life”, not “today”, and when he didn’t it caught me by surprise for some reason. It’s a very slight difference, but I think it is significant.

Here’s a thought. Have you ever thought of the day you are in as a journey? A journey is the long haul, right? It’s supposed to be this far-reaching voyage that will take many years to work through.

How sad is it that as I stood there listening to the prayer of a homeless man downtown I was preparing to go hop back in a nice car, head back out to the nice part of town, hang out in a really nice air conditioned home, and have a couple of really nice meals later in the day. I didn’t even have to go to work. I really didn’t have a care in the world. God is good, right?

But what if I were to be standing in that homeless man’s shoes? What if I were preparing to battle through another day of uncertainty and chaos? What if I truly didn’t know where my next meal was coming from? What if my DAY were a journey? What kind of faith would I have? Could I stand and pray to a God who had allowed such things to happen to me?

It’s easy for me and most other “believers” I know to have faith. What reason do I have not to? I would like to think that I could trust as Job did in Job 13:15-16. But could I? I’ve never had to surrender all. I’ve never suffered significant trials or loss in my life. I’ve never had to awaken to the challenge of journeying through a day.

All I know to do is truly praise my savior for the unbelievable blessings he so undeservedly gives me and awaken each morning with a thankful heart. How could I ever keep from singing His praise? Thank you God and thank you my downtown brother in Christ for speaking to my spirit.

Bryce, For Kingdom Here