I hope that this rings true with someone out there! I know that I can't be alone in my struggle to balance all the "stuff " in my life. Let's be encouraged! We can do what needs to be done and have a vibrant wonderful relationship with our Lord, our spouses and our kids. That's what matters anyway!
Part of a recent journal entry:
Hello. My name is Christie. It's been 7 days since my last quiet time...
Somedays I am horribly apathetic about my life. My goals are getting the house clean, the laundry done and dinner on the table. IT SHOULD NOT BE SO! I have one of the most precious and meaningful jobs on the planet - raising the next generation of Christ-followers. And yet I reduce it to laundry, cooking and cleaning. The trick is that to raise a Christ-follower, I have to BE a Christ-follower. But I am a Christ-forsaker in many senses.
I forsake Him so I can:
-empty the dishwasher or fold that last load of clothes.
-write my never-ending to-do list for tomorrow.
-have the company of electronic media and celebrities I can't relate to.
I forsake Him when:
-I yell at my kids instead of being gentle with my words and kind with my actions.
-I rely on my Psychology degree or a parenting book instead of His Word and counsel.
-I try to do it on my own without His strength.
-I ignore, badger or complain to my husband instead of respecting him with my time and attention or encouraging him with a word fitly spoken. (Please don't let him go to the corner of our roof! ::smiling::)
-I turn off the alarm clock that beckons me out of bed and instead roll over and go back to sleep.
When will I figure out that if I put Him first all other things will pale in comparison, yet shine so much brighter because of time spent with the lover of my soul?
Forgive me for forsaking and neglecting You, for being too busy "serving" and not loving and knowing You. You are the only way I will have the abundant life and not just the accomplished-I've-checked-everything-off-my-list life. Help me to prioritize and focus my attention on what matters!
2 comments:
great post christie. you've really spoken my heart because i think sometimes i'm too stubborn or caught up in the "stuff" to admit i need to get my priorities straight.
it's a juggling act, and i constantly feel like, even though there are many, many balls to juggle, i can only manage to keep a few going successfully at the same time, while the rest (often the most important) are hitting the floor around me.
thank you for the reminder and encouragement to put God first. the rest really does fall into place, and when it doesn't "fall" the way we expected, He gives us the strength to move on and not obsess about it. win-win situation. :)
Great post! This is something that I def. needed to read - especially since I have put off my daily Bible reading to (wrap presents, go shopping, clean the house, etc..) do other things and it shouldn't be that way! Thanks for the reminder!
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