Some days I don't read my Bible because I'm persuaded I don't have time for it.
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Other days I read my Bible because I'm intensely aware of how much I need God's wisdom and help.
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Every day God has perfectly ordained my circumstances to make me more like him.
"I will get to it later."
"I just don't have time today."
"Once I get the laundry and dishes done, then I will sit down to read and pray."
Any of those thoughts sound familiar? "Not having enough time," comes in as the number one excuse I make for not sitting down daily to read my Bible and pray.
I had hoped to start this blog at the beginning of the year. God had different plans.
We had a month of random health issues beginning at Christmas causing our normal life to come to a bit of a halt. Although I would never choose for my kids to be sick, I'm grateful for the perspective that time gave me.
Turns out my long list of to-do's and cleaning projects wasn't as urgent as I had made it out to be. The goal of this blog is to consider how to wisely build my home. But the truth is that all my work is in vain without the Lord working in and through me.
The Scriptures and quote below are here because they're truths I need to be reminded of regularly. My prayer is that they'll encourage you to press in to know the Lord. Not because it's something Christians should do, but because God is good and faithful (even when we are not).
Without further ado, here are five of my favorite reminders of why I need to prioritize daily time with the Lord.
"Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain." Psalm 127:1a
"if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself." 2 Timothy 2:13
"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 12:1-2
"Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” Matthew 7:24–27
"Mothers are always on call, expected to have all the answers and limitless energies. They’re supposed to do everything; it’s taken for granted. How can you be and do everything expected of you? What you need is an habitual sense of the presence of God. Think that Almighty God, who created the stars and keeps the seasons revolving in perfect rhythm, is there in your kitchen, in your bathroom, in the laundry room, in the grocery store. Mothers, be prepared for an arduous struggle. Your calling is impossible without prayer, the comfort and instruction of the Scriptures, and fellowship in your church.
If you’re feeling anxious, without peace, it just may be that you have not made time in your schedule for study in the Scriptures and prayer. It is essential, no matter what you have to forgo, no matter which people in the church you’re going to have to say no to, no matter how crowded your schedule may be at home, you must somehow, by the grace of God, make time to read your Bible and pray.
God knows you can’t always be thinking of Him. You have to put your mind on what you’re doing. You have to concentrate on that recipe. You have to study those homeschool geometry lessons that you forgot so many years ago. You have to concentrate on measuring out that medicine for the sick child or making up the grocery lists and menus for the next week. This means that you must concentrate in your quiet time as well. Then learn to turn back to God throughout the day.
Try looking up to the Lord with a hundred little looks of love during the day. Every now and then lift up your eyes, lift up your heart, and remember that Christ is in you. He dwells in you. He gives you the gift of grace. (Don’t forget grace – you need it! We need it every hour of every day, every minute of every hour.) Learn to pray while you’re peeling the carrots, driving the car or cleaning the house.Remind yourself that the materials of your work and play and all of your daily life are hallowed by the presence of Christ, by the presence of His infinity in the midst of your finiteness. Remember that Christ is present even in the weak and the mean and the ugly. In Matthew 25:40 Jesus said, “Inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these My brothers, you have done it for Me.”Our thoughts and desires need to be more referred to Him, determined by Him. We need to ask for wisdom in mind, holiness in will, and a mind and a will made one with Christ. Living in his presence – in your kitchen and in your laundry room; loving, which means to will the good of another, not allowing any hardship or sacrifice to deter us from helping them; and looking for His best."
~ Elisabeth Elliot, Newsletter, emphasis added
If reading your Bible and praying daily sounds overwhelming, start small. Read a Psalm each day and ask God to give you one truth about who he is to meditate on throughout the day.
It may not seem like much, but the habit of daily renewing your mind with God's truth will always reap great rewards.
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Such an encouragement, Heather; thank you!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I so appreciate the feedback!
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