Do The Next Thing

 

Hey sweet readers! I hope you are well on this Friday morning.

Thanks so much for your prayers for my doctor’s visit yesterday. It turns out I have a bladder infection and that is one reason my BP has been so high. Another reason is pain from other health problems that I have, and we discussed some ways to help with my pain management. I would like to thank the kind physicians and nurses at Palliative Care in Shelby, NC. They are a Godsend to so many and have been such an encouragement and help to me during this season. Living with a chronic illness and disability is not easy and these wonderful folks help make life so much easier and I am grateful for that.

Also, thank you all for your continued prayers. They are being felt. Yesterday in my quiet time, a poem that Elisabeth Elliot has mentioned frequently in her writings came to mind. So I immediately went on google and found it. It is called “Do the Next Thing.” It is such an encouraging word for those who feel overwhelmed and just do not know where to look next. However, God is right there.  Trust Him, and as the poems states — “do the next thing!”

 

Do The Next Thing

From an Old English parsonage down by the sea

There came in the twilight a message for me;

Its quaint Saxon legend, deeply engraven,

Hath as it seems to me, teaching from Heaven.

And on through the hours the quiet words ring,

Like a low inspiration: DO THE NEXT THING.

Many a questioning, many a fear,

Many a doubt, hath its quieting here.

Moment by moment let down from Heaven,

Time, opportunity, guidance are given.

Fear not tomorrows, child of the King,

Trust them with Jesus. DO THE NEXT THING.

Do it immediately; do it with prayer;

Do it reliantly, casting all care;

Do it with reverence, tracing his hand

Who placed it before thee with earnest command,

Stayed on Omnipotence, safe ‘neath His wing,

Leave all resultings. DO THE NEXT THING.

Looking to Jesus, ever serener,

(Working on Suffering) be thy demeanor.

In His dear presence, the rest of his calm,

the light of his countenance be thy Psalm.

Strong in His faithfulness, praise and sing!

Then, as He beckons thee, DO THE NEXT THING.

~Source Unknown

My heart needed those words this morning, and I hope they are comfort to your soul as well. Also, be sure to check back on the blog Sunday for the next post in the Advent Series I am writing along with my friend Erin. Below are links to our first posts.

Read Erin’s post here.

Read my post here.

Have a great weekend!