“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’”
Matthew 25:23 ESV
“There is reserved for me in the future the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me, but to all those who have loved His appearing.”
2 Timothy 4:8 HCSB
“A man who endures trials is blessed, because when he passes the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.”
James 1:12 HCSB
Going through the dailiness of life can leave us grumpy. The little annoyances of others, those things that nag at us or leave us feeling overworked and underappreciated can begin to affect our mood and our interactions with others.
There’s dinner to cook, dishes to wash, a house to clean, and people to care for…on and on…over and over again.
I recently told my husband that it’s okay for him to say that dinner is excellent—even if he has to fib a bit. I like how he says the word, and I love how it makes me feel.
But many times we won’t receive compliments, congratulations, or appreciation from those around us.
We need to remember that we do what we know is good, loving, and worthy because we love our Father. “Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically, as something done for the Lord and not for men,” (Colossians 3:23).
We will earn our rewards when we get to heaven. We will receive our crowns and lay them at the feet of Jesus.
When you’re frustrated, talk to the Lord. Share your feelings. Then take some time to thank Him for the food He’s provided, the home that’s yours to live in, the family you have to care for and all the opportunities that allow you to serve the Lord.
We’ll still be disappointed at times. But when we focus on giving it all to God and remember the eternal rewards we’ll receive in heaven, we can let the frustration go and focus on the future.
PRAYER: Dear Lord, we become weary in this life. Please help us to go from grumpy to glory as we focus on You and the many gifts You have given us. No small act is hidden from Your sight. Help us to enthusiastically do all we do for You! Please help us to remember the promise found in Matthew 10:42, “And whoever gives just a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is a disciple—I assure you: He will never lose his reward!” In Christ’s name, Amen.
Journal: Share your struggles with the Lord. How can you bring glory to the Lord through the things that you do?
Porch Chair Prayers 