Yesterday, I had one of those mornings. If I had been one of the seven dwarfs, I would’ve been Grumpy! I had planned and organized the night before, but things still went wrong. I was chasing dogs in my pajamas, and they weren’t listening -- not to mention, it was so cold! Then I was making Austin’s breakfast and burnt the French toast, spilled the syrup, worried we were going to be late, tried to get the dogs fed, the car warmed up and loaded, which includes two of the dogs. I then remembered that I had washed my coat and scarf, and they were in the dryer. So I get the coat and the scarf, which were covered with white lint, which I tried to brush but didn’t have time, so I ran to get another coat . . . and now we are late! Whew! By this time, I am frustrated but putting on a happy face for Austin as we drive to school.
After I dropped him off, I had a little time before an appointment, so I decide to wash my car. I go to the drive-thru car wash, roll down my window to pay, and proceed into the wash bay. Oops! I forgot to roll up my window so I am driving in with water spraying me! By now, I’m not having a really good day! I realize that it’s been a comedy of errors, and certainly nothing major, but isn’t it just like the enemy to steal our joy over, “the little foxes that spoil the vine”? However, as I sat in the car wash, dripping-wet on one side, I said, “Lord, I really don’t want to have a bad day.” I continued trying to dry off, not expecting a reply, when I heard the Holy Spirit say, “Worship your way through it.” “But Lord,” I whined, “I don’t feel like it.” My choices were to worship or to stay grumpy. Hmm . . . what to do!
Now I realize there may be those who would question a Christian saying that they don’t feel like worshipping their wonderful Lord. The interesting thing about worship is that we have to take our eyes off of everything and everyone else including ourselves, and focus our attention on God. When we get entangled in the affairs of everyday life, worship can be difficult. It takes discipline to “cast aside the weights that so easily beset us” but when we do, freedom comes, and moreover, peace comes. Here I was, knowing all this and having the answer, but still didn’t feel like doing what God said to do. Why couldn’t He just magically fix everything and not require a thing from me?! (Am I the only person that’s truly ever felt this way?!)
I remember Rod preaching on worship and how it confounds the enemy. What does the enemy think when he tries to upset us and we fire back with worship? We just told him that his plan doesn’t work and he better think before trying it again! The most beautiful aspect of worship, however, is that it ushers in the presence of God and, “In His presence there is fullness of joy”. When the cloud of His presence moves in, everything else simply evaporates. God’s truths are so simple, and sometimes I am so stubborn!
Well, I do try to be an obedient daughter, knowing that He always has what I need, so I put in a CD. I had a forty-five minute drive ahead, so I had plenty of time to “worship my way through it”. I hummed a bit, mumbled for awhile, and then a few of the words got to me! Soon, the unimportance of that morning disappeared into the importance of my God and all that He does for me.
My day was not perfect, and still presented challenges, but I stayed in an attitude of worship while being mindful of God and His word to me. As for the seven dwarfs, at least I can say that I went from being Grumpy to Happy!
