I couldn’t find the right size gift bag for the hostess gift I planned to take to a friend. As I sifted through the stash of bags in a drawer, I found a package of unopened wrapping paper. I bought the paper from a little boy in our church who was selling it for a school fundraiser. I tore open the cellophane wrap, and it was exactly what I needed. As I began wrapping the gift, I pictured the boy and realized the paper was almost twenty years old. Hidden in a drawer, it had gone unopened all these years. There were many times I could have used it. Instead, I spent time shopping for other paper. I wonder how much time I wasted in the past twenty years doing that.
Peter tells us God’s power provides everything we need for daily living. In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, we read of the praise to God who has blessed us with wonderful spiritual blessings through Christ His Son. We have God’s unlimited resources, yet we struggle and try human solutions rather than pray for wisdom or rely on His Word for direction. It’s easy to scan the self-help shelves of bookstores or seek the advice of someone who tells us what we want to hear. Too often, we choose a good solution rather than God’s best path. We often leave our Bible unopened when it has promises of encouragement and principles for living.
Pull open your chest of drawers and look for the beautiful paper hidden away. When you’ve failed to open God’s Word and access His power for daily living, remember it is exactly what you need. Don’t waste time shopping for a substitute.
(Photo courtesy of morguefile and cohdra.)
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""Too often, we choose a good solution rather than God?s best path."" I love this. Thank you for sharing. This was a wonderful story and reminder.