I wish I could sit here and write that God is teaching, teaching, teaching me. Truth be told...I've been so busy that I haven't taken the time to let him.
That's the crazy thing about God. He loves us and longs for a most intimate relationship with us...but he won't force it. He waits, so patiently, for us to come to him. And yet we stay busy with the world. Spouse, kids, chores, jobs, relationships...so many "good" things that demand our attention (and with a toddler I truly mean demand!!) that it's easy to tend to those and end up with nothing left for God.
The Jesus Calling devotion this morning starts out with this sentence..."Meet Me in early morning splendor." Why early morning? Why not mid afternoon splendor or late night splendor? Actually I can think of two reasons.
1. Starting the day with God is going to give us so much more energy and grace for the day. We are going to go out surrounded in his presence. It's not going to take the troubles away, but it just might remind us to seek him when they do occur.
2. Peace. I think the key word is not just morning but early morning. Early...before everything else starts. Before the kids rise, before the phone rings, before the computer starts dinging with e-mail alerts. When the world itself is still waking up and preparing for a new day. Before the distractions can creep in and take priority in our time.
I do not succeed at this...at least not as of recent. I used to. Before Jay, before Evan...when I worked second shift and didn't have morning obligations. I could make a cup of coffee and snuggle up with my Bible and just commune with God. Those were some of the best times!!! Oh how I miss them. I miss the morning dew, the sun rising, the birds chirping. It truly is an experience to be up that early with God. He can speak to our hearts in that early morning grogginess in ways that we'll never hear in the midst of afternoon chaos.
Even though my journey with God often goes slower than I'd like, I love all that he is teaching me. The lesson that keeps resounding is...find my presence. Revel in it, relax in it, sun bathe in it!! This world has gone crazy...and yet God's presence hasn't changed. It's in his presence that I find renewal. It's in his presence that I find answers. It's in his presence that I find peace (despite the storms). It's in his presence that I find my purpose and my joy in life.
It's hard to do, but everything else can wait (and trust me, I'm preaching to myself here!). One day we'll make it to heaven and live in constant communion with God. Until then, we have to work at it. But it's worth the cost. It's the only way to find a moment of true peace on this earth.
Take time today to block out the world. Maybe you can't do early morning. That's okay. Find the time that works best for you. Although there is something special about seeking God in the stillness of the morning, it's not the only place he can be found. We will find him whenever we slow down long enough to look. And the reward will be beyond your wildest dreams!!
That's the crazy thing about God. He loves us and longs for a most intimate relationship with us...but he won't force it. He waits, so patiently, for us to come to him. And yet we stay busy with the world. Spouse, kids, chores, jobs, relationships...so many "good" things that demand our attention (and with a toddler I truly mean demand!!) that it's easy to tend to those and end up with nothing left for God.
The Jesus Calling devotion this morning starts out with this sentence..."Meet Me in early morning splendor." Why early morning? Why not mid afternoon splendor or late night splendor? Actually I can think of two reasons.
1. Starting the day with God is going to give us so much more energy and grace for the day. We are going to go out surrounded in his presence. It's not going to take the troubles away, but it just might remind us to seek him when they do occur.
2. Peace. I think the key word is not just morning but early morning. Early...before everything else starts. Before the kids rise, before the phone rings, before the computer starts dinging with e-mail alerts. When the world itself is still waking up and preparing for a new day. Before the distractions can creep in and take priority in our time.
I do not succeed at this...at least not as of recent. I used to. Before Jay, before Evan...when I worked second shift and didn't have morning obligations. I could make a cup of coffee and snuggle up with my Bible and just commune with God. Those were some of the best times!!! Oh how I miss them. I miss the morning dew, the sun rising, the birds chirping. It truly is an experience to be up that early with God. He can speak to our hearts in that early morning grogginess in ways that we'll never hear in the midst of afternoon chaos.
Even though my journey with God often goes slower than I'd like, I love all that he is teaching me. The lesson that keeps resounding is...find my presence. Revel in it, relax in it, sun bathe in it!! This world has gone crazy...and yet God's presence hasn't changed. It's in his presence that I find renewal. It's in his presence that I find answers. It's in his presence that I find peace (despite the storms). It's in his presence that I find my purpose and my joy in life.
It's hard to do, but everything else can wait (and trust me, I'm preaching to myself here!). One day we'll make it to heaven and live in constant communion with God. Until then, we have to work at it. But it's worth the cost. It's the only way to find a moment of true peace on this earth.
Take time today to block out the world. Maybe you can't do early morning. That's okay. Find the time that works best for you. Although there is something special about seeking God in the stillness of the morning, it's not the only place he can be found. We will find him whenever we slow down long enough to look. And the reward will be beyond your wildest dreams!!