Waking up on holy or shaky ground

I believe that it was Henny Youngman who used to joke that he woke up on the wrong side of the bed… the side with the wall. I can relate, sometime the problems of life seem to hit me in the face before I even get up and moving. Even though my bed is in the middle of the room, occasionally I will wake up and figuratively hit a wall. All it takes is a stray thought, a concern that creeps into my consciousness, and as I lay in bed ready to get up my mind is off and rolling on a litany of troubles. I’ve come to realize that this is caused by “stress overflow.” Stress has to come out in some way, so it sneaks out when I am only half awake and takes control of my thoughts. I’ve also come to realize that how much control I give stress over my morning thoughts, determines whether I awaken standing on holy ground or shaky ground. Awakening in the morning has some inherent blessings attached to it. First and foremost, I’m alive, God has chosen to give me one more day at life. Second, another day is another chance to get it right, to live in a way that blesses God and the world around me. Third, there is always the possibility that the day ahead will be the most spectacular day of my life. I’ve had some pretty good ones, but I have to believe that with God, the best is yet to come. Philippians 4:13 reads “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” This includes waking up and crashing through a wall of troubles that exist for the primary purpose of stealing my joy. May we all “…be transformed by the renewing of our minds, so that we may discern what is the will of God – what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2)