Pin the Tail on the Donkey has to be one of the most frustrating games ever. Piñatas may have replaced it since it doesn’t seem as popular at children’s parties anymore. Both games require blindfolds and aimless direction, with either a prize for the most accurate placement of a tail on a picture of a tail-less donkey or a candy shower reward for breaking open the piñata while wandering around in the darkness, beating the air with a stick. I remember friends cheering me on as I got close to the donkey’s backside, but some purposely steered me in the wrong direction, and the tail ended up on the donkey’s head.
Ambling through life aimlessly without goals and purpose is like trying to find the piñata or the donkey’s backside. Sometimes we get into such a routine that slowly but surely, a “blindfold” creeps over our vision, and we settle for a ho-hum, meaningless life.
Where there is no vision, the people perish, we are told in Proverbs 29:18. Guidance from the Lord—even for our everyday schedule—is so helpful and refreshing. Routines, appointments, tasks, etc., come alive when we include the Lord in them! Even something as simple as going to the market can become an opportunity to speak words of encouragement to a weary cashier.
If we include the Lord in our daily planning, He will interject excellent “God opportunities” in the most boring, mundane task. The Message translation records Proverbs 29:18 like this, If people can’t see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; but when they attend to what He reveals, they are most blessed.
How planned and predictable has your life gotten? It’s dangerous when we exclude God from our plans and go aimlessly in our own direction, assuming that tomorrow will be like today or assuredly like we’ve planned it. James 4:13-16 (NLT) says, Look here, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit." How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it's here a little while, then it's gone. What you ought to say is, "If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that."
If the Lord wants us to--that’s the key! Discovering and doing what pleases the Lord brings vision and purpose into view. Including the Lord in your daily to-do list will change your life. The blindfold of darkness will fall off as the Lord is included in your plans. An excellent way to start including Him is to write at the top of your daily task list, “Devotions.” Let Him have the first word about the order of your day, and let your vision and purpose come from Jesus—today and every day!
© 2020, 2022 Chris Werre