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A Blank Sheet of Paper

by Jerry Ousley  
6/14/2007 / Christian Living

Have you ever had to write something and sat starring at a blank piece of paper? Think of the pressure if you were doing it for a living and had a deadline coming up soon. A blank mind about what to write is a scary thing. It seems a little more scary (to me anyway) when you're writing for the Lord and you're asking, "What do you want this week, Lord?"

As I sat this morning looking at the blank white sheet on my computer screen (representing a piece of paper), it dawned on me, that we look at a blank piece of paper each and every day of our lives. Regardless how wrinkled, stained with erasures, or blots where we have scratched things out from mistakes we have made, each day we face a brand new piece of paper. Oh, those things from yesterday may still haunt us and even plague us with penalties. But we still get that fresh start when we awake in the morning. Isn't God gracious to do that for us?

So the question is before us, "what shall we do with this blank piece of paper today?" I'd like to offer a few suggestions. You can do with them what you wish; ignore them, reject them, or take them to heart and build upon them making them unique for your life and situation.

First of all, if you don't know Christ as your Savior then you need to do that now (I'm not just talking about a head knowledge anyone can believe James 2:19). Ask the Lord to come into you life by admitting that you've been a sinner. If you are a believer in Christ, but have sin in your life that you still haven't repented of do that now (1 John 2:1). This includes forgiving someone who has, or you think has, wronged you. We've got to get that out of the way to get rid of all those wrinkled, dirty sheets (Matthew 6:14-15).

Next, as hard is it may be, when you arise make this your theme statement: "This is the day that the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." (Psalm 118:24). If we can learn to rejoice in this brand new day this brand new piece of paper, each and every day - I can guarantee that despite what the day brings, whether trouble, happiness, success or failure, it will go better.

Thirdly, let's adopt a positive attitude. Now, I don't like to be around someone who is constantly correcting me. I bet you don't either. I'm not speaking about always correcting someone else. That takes the focus off of ourselves. What I am saying is that we be positive in our own actions and reactions. This is tough and I've got to do some of this myself. I read a little piece this morning that is meant for a joke but it brought conviction to my heart. Of course, everything it mentioned didn't apply to me, but enough of it did to jar me a little. Here it is:

If you can start the day without caffeine or pep pills,
If you can be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains,
If you can resist complaining and boring people with
your troubles,
If you can eat the same food everyday and be grateful for it,
If you can understand when loved ones are too busy to
give you time,
If you can overlook when people take things out on you
when, through no fault of yours, something goes wrong,
If you can take criticism and blame without resentment,
If you can face the world without lies and deceit,
If you can conquer tension without medical help,
If you can relax without liquor,
If you can sleep without the aid of drugs,

...then you are probably a cat or a dog.
(Author unknown)

This made me think, "If I must be a cat or dog for God, then it sure sounds a lot better than complaining, grumbling, and being a grouch.

My wife, Debbie, also writes. She shared a story in one of her articles that I'd like to share with you today:

"I heard a story about an elderly man whom all his life was a giver, encourager, believed in Christ, and brightened people's lives wherever he went. Well, this gentleman was hit by a car and killed. Upon examination by the medical department it was stated that in reality he should have died years before because of the severe disease of cancer that he had."

I want my life to be like this man. Not complaining about my own problems and troubles, but always being there for someone else. What about you?

Jerry D. Ousley is the author of ?Soul Challenge?, ?Soul Journey?, ?Ordeal?, ?The Spirit Bread Daily Devotional and his first novel ?The Shoe Tree.? Visit our website at spiritbread.com to download these and more completely free of charge.

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