Every day we make the choice to rise from our beds and move toward something. You might have heard your alarm and dreaded the day and hit the snooze button, but eventually something was calling you to move forward. Why did you get out of bed today?
There are days that I never want to get up. Those are the days I need something more to rise and take on the day. Have you had those mornings where you’re asking, “Why?” Life can beat us down to a place of discouragement and disillusionment about our place in the big struggle of living. When we can look outside of our agenda and schedules we might be able to find that reason for rising from Paul’s words to the Corinthian church.
Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15.58
Our battle to live each day for our Father in heaven is not a waste.
If the oceans could speak they would tell us about the thousands of ocean battles that were fought at sea. Historians say that when ships would leave a harbor they would fly their nation’s flag or their “colors” as they ventured toward the enemy. When the battle was fought and lost you would sail back to the harbor, with the colors down, defeated. If you had won the battle then those colors would fly high on the mast. There are rumors of those that before they would leave the harbor for the day’s battle would climb the mast and “nail their colors” on the mast, making the decision not to accept defeat. This determination and confidence sent a message to all in the harbor and on the ship: We matter and we will not surrender to any adversity.
Every morning we make the decision to see our day differently. Our colors can be nailed to the mast of our lives like a beautiful mosaic of stained glass in a cathedral because Jesus already won the battle. I rose today with a different hope and confidence. “Nail your Colors!”
Troy A Murphy 