Lifetime Daily DevotionsHalimbawa

Just a Little Mistake

 Don't worry over anything whatever;

tell God every detail of your needs in earnest and thankful prayer,

and the peace of God, which transcends human understanding,

will keep constant guard over your hearts and minds

as they rest in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7 (JB Phillips)

 

            "I need to call Pres. Could you punch his number in for me, please?" It is pouring down rain, the streets are slick, the traffic is heavy and scary, our appointment is at 9:00, and I'm having second guesses. Was it for 9:00 or 11:00? "Hi Pres, are you heading for Jim's office?" "No, Mom, our appointment isn't until 11:00. Problem?" "No, we'll just turn around and go back home. See you at 11:00." People are nice enough to not honk at me as I cross through the scary traffic and pouring rain, and we finally pull into the garage safe and sound, none the worse for my mistake. Just a little one.

Mistakes: decisions made from a false perception or misunderstanding; decisions that prove to be wrong; a blunder; decisions made when emotionally unstable or decisions made in haste

Big mistakes and little mistakes sometimes make up our day. They can be little ones such as running out of gas, forgetting to turn the dryer on, or forgetting the time of the appointment. Most of them don't cause much stress, and most of them are not life threatening. I just "turn around and go back home" and it's over - having learned an important lesson from that mistake hopefully.

            There are, of course, mistakes that may have had very bad consequences and guilt has been our constant companion ever since that day. The "if only" thoughts run rampant through our mind and cause tears, depression, and unbelievable stress. "I could have gone to the store myself, but, no! I took advantage of his being at home and had him go in my place! Oh, if only I had that decision to make again!" If only - if only - if only. "That would not have happened if I had just paid attention to my gas gauge. It was all my fault!" Yes, there are some tragic big ones that change our lives dramatically mixed in with the little ones that don't cause a great deal of trouble. Major mistakes and minor mistakes.

There is one BIG ONE however, that can ruin my day and cause the big mistakes to devastate me and the little mistakes to turn into gigantic problems. What is that one all-important one? Forgetting just who is in control of my life and is meeting this day and every day, for me - through me. Meeting every day for me. Read it again.  I am not God. I do not know who is going to survive the crash and who isn't. Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book they were all written, The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them (Psalm 139:16 NAS). I cannot add a single day to anyone's life. Only God can do that. I do not know the catastrophic decisions that will be made bringing death and destruction to someone's placid world today. Our omniscient (all-knowing) God knows. Yes, our decisions can sometimes bring disaster into our lives. God is the only One who can keep that disaster from destroying us!

Each morning: "I don't know what is coming into my life today, Lord. I know that I live in a fallen world and that bad things do happen to good people. Yes, I know that. This may be the day when some person crosses to our side of the freeway and we wind up in the ambulance with sirens blaring. I don't know. I do know - unequivocally[1] - that You are with me constantly. Your presence never leaves me. You never let go of my hand. I also know that nothing can come into my life that You cannot handle. Please don't let me try to take control and handle these things myself, Lord. I cannot meet life today or tomorrow. You can. Thank You for Your indwelling presence to handle my mistakes, the little ones and the big ones and the mistakes of others. I do not fear today's mistakes because I know You."

Truth. The ONE disastrous mistake I can make is forgetting You in the melee around me. I must not - I must not - make that mistake today.

 

May I REST in You this day.

Thank You, precious Lord.

 

           

 

 

[1] Unequivocally: plain; clear; without a shadow of a doubt