Daily Devotional July 27, 2021

One of the very exciting things our church is doing will happen on Wednesdays.  This fall, in addition the regular children’s programming, after the church wide evening meal, we will clear the plates off the tables and have an old fashioned of worship service in Grobowsky Hall. 

This past Wednesday, a group met in my office to come up with a name for the meal and worship service.

Emma, our youth intern, who will be going to seminary, told us the name her church used for the meal and worship.  She said, “We call it the Agape Café.”  Then she looked at Pastor Kit and me and said, “Agape means love.”

That’s right.  A college student decided she needed to define Agape for the pastors.

Melissa, realizing what was about to happen said, “You shouldn’t have said that.  Tom will never let it go.”

At that moment, it dawned on Emma that Pastor Kit and I probably knew what Agape meant.  She said, “I don’t know what y’all know.”

Just for the record, Emma is a wonderful youth intern.  She brings a lot of laughter to our church.  That’s a good thing.

 It was Melissa’s comment about me never letting anything go that got me thinking.

Part of being a mature Christian, bathed in God’s holy grace, is practicing letting go of the little nuisances of life.

Your husband may mansplain things to you.  The waitress may get your order wrong.  Your teenager may play his music too loud.  Your boss may be an insensitive doofus.  You may get caught at a traffic light.  Whatever it is, let it go.

If we don’t let go of little irritants, they can color the entire day in a way our loving God does not want.

There will always be things that have the potential to annoy you.  Life is too short let that happen.  Let it go.

This is exactly what Paul meant by saying, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7) 

God wants you to have a wonderful, blessed day.  In order for this to happen, be determined, disciplined, and diligent in letting go of the little things.  You will be glad you did.

Prayer:  Dear Gracious Heavenly God, in those moments when I let the little irritants of life get in the way, remind me of your love, grace, and peace.  Help me let go and trust in you.  In Jesus’ name I pray.  Amen.

If you let go of the little annoyances of life and put yourself in God’s loving hands, your day will be blessed.  I promise.

Also, this fall, I hope to see you at the Wednesday evening meal and worship service.  We decided to call it Constant Communion.

I pray your day is filled with joy and laughter.

Tom Robbins