I was shopping in the grocery store with my wife yesterday. Really, I am not shopping, I’m just following her throughout the store, pushing the cart. Once-in-a-while I will divert to snatch something I see that I would like and sneak it into the cart. One of the things that I do enjoy is “people-watching” while I’m pushing our cart. I look at each person who passes me, and I try to put a story of their life together while we are passing one another.
Yesterday, I noticed an older man who reminded me of one of the Muppet characters. Do you remember the Muppet who was a grumpy old man? This man looked like that character, but with a good head of hair. As this man passed by me and my cart, I could not help but notice that he had a very deep frown on his face. Just as I can’t miss a person with a great smile, I notice people who look sad as well.
Christian, if we are not careful, we will go through life looking like we just drank a jar of dill pickle juice. We need to be careful to show the world a countenance of victory! Why, you ask? Today I read, “And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sin, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD” (Psalm 27:6).
As a believer, we will face the same troubles a person who is not a believer will face. There is a major difference that needs to shine out of us. We have the Lord to lift up our heads above our enemies. I know it is not always easy to smile, but when you think about this verse, and what it means in the deepest sense, it should cause you to live in a world of hope, rather than in a world of despair. Ultimately, we have a God Who is watching us, and Who does see what we are going through, and Who will provide everything we will need for what we are facing.
Today is a good day to remember that regardless of what might come your way, God has a purpose and a reason for it. You can be sure that His purpose and reason will bring ultimate joy to you, and glory to Him. Knowing this, I want to face my day with a smile on my face. I don’t want to resemble the grumpy puppet from the Muppets. If you will smile today as you walk through the grocery store, or go to work, or to school, or just for a walk in the neighborhood; you will make people wonder what you have that they don’t have in their lives.
Be encouraged today! Your God is ready to lift your head above whatever challenges you will face today. Don’t be discouraged. You are a victor!