A favorite hymn reminds me of daily dependence on God for my every need, my need especially for His presence, and my dependence on His mercy to guide and direct my path. It reads: “New every morning is the love our wakening and uprising prove; Through sleep and darkness safely brought restored to life and power and thought. New mercies, each returning day hover around us while we pray; new perils past, new sins forgiven, new thoughts of God, new hopes of heaven. If, on our daily course, our mind be set to hallow all we find, new treasures still, of countless price, God will provide for sacrifice. Only, O Lord, in Thy dear love, fit us for perfect rest above, and help us, this and every day, to live more nearly as we pray.” (John Keble, 1827)
Just as Jesus taught us, “Give us this day our daily bread,” we need to depend on His grace with us each and every day and consciously and intentionally call on His mercies as we seek to live this life. I am guilty of rushing ahead sometimes, beginning my own day’s agenda without taking time to ask Him what His plan for me that day is. I take for granted that His grace will be sufficient, because in my life’s course, it always has been.
I’ve been reminded numerous times in the last few weeks that this is my pride talking. I am completely and utterly dependent on daily strength renewed for the strength to face each day’s challenges. I tend to fill my calendar, trying to accomplish in my own strength what I think I should be doing, rather than living joyously because I am doing what God’s priorities for the day might be. I need to learn complete dependence. I’m not sure how God is going to teach me this, but the first step must be my recognition of the need and desire to be attuned to His presence in each and every task of the day.
Just as the Israelites were given manna for just one day, perhaps I need to see my life in daily increments as well. There’s a great deal of discipline there, and I often lack that trait. Nancy Guthrie, a very talented Bible teacher who is deeply affecting my perspective these days, writes: “Just as you would never expect to live very long without eating food, don’t fool yourself into thinking you can live without taking in my Word. My Word is not an incidental addition to your life but your essential fuel for thriving in this world. So take into yourself the very words I have spoken. Chew on them. Let them work their way into every area of your life. Let them change you and remake you. Become saturated with my Word, and find your satisfaction in my Word.”
She continues, and I agree because I’ve experienced it and need a refresher course: “You will never find me lacking when you come to me. As you learn to depend on me more and more, and as you discover over and over again that I can be enough for you, you will begin to rest in my provision for you.. You’ll have less fear about whether or not I will show up tomorrow with what you need. You’ll discover how blessed it is to hunger and thirst for me, and find me fully satisfying.” (Hearing Jesus Speak into Your Sorrow, Nancy Guthrie, pp. 121-122.)
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