Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through him who gives me strength.” NIV

Every day I have a job to do which I really don’t enjoy. Every day the horse corral needs cleaning. Every day, winter, spring, summer and fall, there are always piles and piles of horse yuk to be shovelled up and shovelled out. Yuk, yuk, yuk. And some days as I begin the job and survey the piles I am simply overwhelmed by the sheer number of them. On one such day as I heaved a sigh and was considering the idea of simply turning around and heading back to the house, it occurred to me how aspects of life were a lot like this job of corral cleaning.

Day by day yuk enters our life, it cannot help but do so. Why, because we live in a fallen world, thus we are always going to have problems and troubles of one sort or another be they overwhelmingly large or irritatingly small. After all Jesus said:

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:34 NIV

Yes, each day does have enough trouble or yuk of its own, none of us I’m sure have any doubt concerning this truth. The bigger issue however is dealing in victory with it day in and day out. How do we not let it get the best of us, rob us of our joy or overwhelm us with its sheer regularity?

I believe the answer is really quite simple: one pile at a time, one prayer at a time, one moment at a time. For as today’s scripture reminds us, we can do everything through him who gives us strength, which includes dealing with the yuk of the mundane, day in and day out.

So today as you see those piles of yuk before you, remember: one pile at a time, one prayer at a time, one moment at a time in his strength will allow you to deal victoriously with each situation as it arises and in the end, leave the corral of your life clean and tidy behind you.

Prayer: Father God thank you that you have provided a way for us in Christ Jesus to deal victoriously and even joyously with the daily yuk of the mundane, one pile at a time, one prayer at a time one moment at a time in his strength. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.

Lynne Phipps
Atlin, B.C.