serve the Lord with gladness

I am really loving this new
phone app I downloaded
for my pharmacy.

I know that's completely ridiculous...
to love a pharmacy app.
But it truly has made something
that used to be a tedious
and time consuming necessity,
into an absolute no brainer.

I mean, there was a time when
I had to call the doctor's office,
to ask them to call the pharmacy.

Even worse, before that...
I had to visit the doctor's office
to pick up the paper prescription,
then drive to the pharmacy to drop it off.

But now, all I do
is click on the app, scan the barcode
on the label of the bottle, and presto...
my prescription is submitted.
And if the doctor needs a call
the pharmacy will do it.
I'm completely out of the loop!

Then they just text me when it's ready.
See... no brainer!

I can just pick up the script
and follow the directions on the label...
because those are doctor's orders.

​And I got to thinking,
sometimes I wish it were that easy
when it comes to following the will of God.

You know, like if you could maybe
just use a little app on your phone
to scan some label on your Bible,
and presto...
you'd get some detailed directions
of what God wanted you to do.
You know, like about His will for you
that day... that week even,
or for your entire life's purpose.

I know there are plenty of Bible apps
but they don't have THAT feature... yet.

But I kind of get this sense
when I read Psalm 100...
that while it can't tell me
every specific detail within the
description of the will of God
for my life today...

It is sort of like
a prescription I can follow
pretty much any day of my life.

That is...
if I were so inclined to do.

So let's scan it.
Well, you know what I mean...
look at how it reads.

Like most prescriptions.
It begins with directions...
Make a joyful shout to the Lord!
Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
Know that the Lord, He is God;

Then, it lists patient
history and information,
It is He who has made us,
and not we ourselves;
We are His people and
the sheep of His pasture.

And next, it gives
additional instructions, or side effects...
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.

And finally, it almost seems
as if a signature appears.
This name of the Physician
and His credentials...
For the Lord is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.
Psalm 100 NKJV

Now I'm not saying
that this is an easy pill to swallow.
Nor a few quick remedies to apply.

But to be honest,
​these aren't incredibly hard things either.
For they are the type that require
mindfulness, a humble heart,
and dedicated patient compliance.

Scanning these each morning
might actually be where I need to start.
Maybe it won't be
with an easy app and a barcode.
But there actions I could take
that will set my day off
in the right direction.

And those days could certainly
add up to weeks and months
of right living, until who knows...
I might find myself right in the middle
of walking in God's will for my life!

So how do I start?
I guess by knowing the script...
thats short for prescription.

What if I prepared myself
for a good start tomorrow
and committed to writing
this Psalm out on a notecard...
and taping it to the mirror
of my bathroom?

Maybe reading it ALOUD
each morning to myself.
Or carrying it with me
throughout the day.

I wonder how it may change
my outlook
my perspective
my attitude
my thankfulness?

And maybe add to that
something as simple as
putting on the right music
as I get ready in the morning.

Not the stuff with
just a good beat and questionable lyrics.
But something that starts my day,
lifts my mental attitude,
my outlook on life, and even gives
God access to my mind, will and emotions.

Then it wouldn't be so hard
to serve the Lord with gladness.

Could it be worth a try?
I've tried medicine prescribed
to see if it made me feel better...
and never objected to that.

For the Lord is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.

If that's the Doctor
and these are His instructions.
Maybe I should simply accept them
as best for me.
Try them and see if He doesn't know best.

Word of God
train me, today...
to follow this prescription today.
to begin and end my day
​serving You with gladness.