August 8

Contentment

Embracing Life

“So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary
life—your sleeping, eating, going to work, and walking-around life—and place
it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing
you can do for him.” Romans 12:1 (MSG)

Life is unpredictable. Many times the best-laid plans are changed or
rerouted. And often the key to the entire situation is our response.
After taking time away from my normal ministry in order to plan
a meeting for missionary women, I looked forward to returning to
work. I missed the bright faces and warm friendships of the Muslims
with whom I’m developing relationships. Most of them are refugees
and strangers to Kenya. Many live in bad circumstances—cramming
as many people as they can into one room. They are simply grateful for
escaping the dangers of war and fighting in neighboring countries.
I was excited about receiving a volunteer to work with me as I got
back into ministry. I started making big plans, but because of changes
in my husband’s responsibilities, I had to change and reroute my plans.
The volunteer ended up working elsewhere, and God has provided a
better opportunity than I could ever have imagined.

This response of “embracing what God does” must come from a
surrender of our lives to Him. It’s taking our everyday, ordinary life—
sleeping, eating, working and walking-around life—and placing it before
God as an offering. We must relinquish our rights and expectations
to what we do and where we go. I will embrace what God has for
me, knowing that in the act of warmly receiving and clinging to those
things, it will be the best thing that I can do for Him.
May we embrace what God does and allows in our lives.

—P., Central, Eastern and Southern Africa

Father, Your ways are not my ways, and I praise You that You know best. May
missionaries who experience change in ministry this year depend on You to
guide them. I accept what You have for me today, knowing that You will direct
my paths. Amen.

Next day