Honest Thoughts from a Pastor

Monday! It’s here again! I can assure you I’m not as enthusiastic as I sound (lol). The typical feeling of most people is, “Oh, I have to go back to work today. Hooray!” That, of course, is said sarcastically. All the while, they can’t wait for the weekend to roll back around. Monday most often feels like the enemy of most of us.

Several pastors I know are spent on Monday. They have preached their hearts out, sometimes 2-4 times in that day. If all went well, they got a nap on Sunday afternoon. If not, they tended to other church business. Some take Monday off, but most I know hit the ground running on Monday morning with staff meetings or recaps of what went well, what went wrong, or who got mad and is leaving the church. Monday can be a beast.

Somewhere in the mix, you and I have to turn away from the dread of Monday to the reality of how God wants us to view each and every day. The psalmist said it this way – “This is the day the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad IN it” (Psalm 118:24). The emphasis on the word “IN” came from me. The Lord didn’t say be glad because of it. He told us to be glad IN it.

How can you and I be glad IN the day? It starts by focusing on who God is. When you and I dwell on the person of God, we can rejoice. When you and I dwell on the blessings of God, we can also rejoice IN the day. We can be having the worst day in the world with a griping boss or upset church members who tend to contact you daily with a whine session, but we can rejoice when we turn our attention toward the God of Heaven and away from the junk.

On this Monday morning, I challenge you to be laser-focused. Get your mind off the dread of your job or anything else that plagues you at the moment. Turn your eyes upon Jesus! Look full in His wonderful face! And the things of Earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.