How Are You Doing Today?

How are you doing today? How are you feeling? I’m not asking for a churchy answer, I’m not asking for an answer that’s hidden behind a mask, I’m not asking for you to be fake…I want to know how you’re doing.

Mark Batterson, Pastor of National Community Church in Washington, DC, came up with a prayer maxim that I instantly fell in love with: PRAY like it depends on God and WORK like it depends on you. That’s AWESOME! I believe that sums up following Jesus. I believe that sums up the walk we take in faith, our spiritual journey, our recovery.

How are you doing today?

I think many of us do the opposite. I think many of us PRAY but doubt God will answer and don’t WORK because we fear it’ll do no good. I think that’s why many of us find ourselves struggling with the same crap that we were facing a year ago, two years ago, ten years ago. Our minds, our souls, our hearts, are all clouded and concealed by fear, shame, guilt, and worry. We’ve become too comfortable smiling, waving, and pretending like everything’s OK. We’ve become accustomed to ACTING and forgot what it means to be REAL. We’ve learned to live in the bushes like Adam.

How are you doing today?

I have followed your commands, which keep me from following cruel and evil people. My steps have stayed on your path; I have not wavered from following you. I am praying to you because I know you will answer, O God. Bend down and listen as I pray.
Psalm 17:4-6 NLT

God loves us. God loves you. He wants to bless you. He wants to grow you. He wants to see you succeed at everything you do. God wants to work His miracles THROUGH you, change the world THROUGH you, save lives THROUGH you. That’s His heart—to save the world, to save YOU.

Are you following His commands?
Have your steps stayed on His path?
Is your faith wavering?
Do you believe He’ll answer your prayers?
How are you doing today?

You don’t have to hide in the bushes any longer. You don’t have to live in fear and shame any longer. You don’t have to hold on to the pain of your past any longer. You don’t have to pretend any longer. He’ll give you strength. He’ll give you courage. He’ll give you forgiveness. He’ll give you grace. He’ll give you mercy. He’ll give you hope. He’ll give you a new life. He’ll give you a new identity. He’ll give you a new name.

Walk in His ways. Follow His lead. Pray and He’ll answer. Pray like it depends on God and work like it depends on you.

So, how are you doing today?