I mentally go over, again and again, what needs to be done in order to make sure everything gets completed and accomplished the way I feel it ought to. The second my feet hit the floor in the morning I busily scurry from task to task, my life is but a check list: I don't live to LIVE- instead I live to check those mental boxes and move on. When I get home from work and walk through the door I immediately begin cleaning, cooking, doing laundry, etc... At times my sweet husband has to draw me out of myself and say "take a minute, sit with me and tell me about your day..". Although he shouldn't have to ASK me to spend time with him, this mental check list is so loud, needy and demanding that I often forget to enjoy the very thing I work so hard for: Our Marriage. I'm being honest here because I think many of you may find yourself in the same boat as me. We work ourselves to the bone in order to provide the best homes for our families; we want to make sure great food is on the table, clean towels are on the shelves and things are situated for tomorrow when we lather, rinse and repeat. All of these many things are in vain though, if we never spend quality time with the ones we work so hard to please. I'm finding that it's okay to cook a box of mac'n'cheese if it means I actually sit with my husband instead of slave over a hot stove and then run off to clean a million dishes. I'm finding that it's okay to use a towel more than once if it means my husband and I are able to take a stroll through the park instead.
IT'S OKAY TO BE STILL.
As I thought about that mental check list of mine that is always demanding my attention I thought, "Wow, this sounds a lot like what I do regarding my spiritual life as well...". Ouch.
Devotional: Check.
Prayer: Check.
Church: Check.
Tithe: Check.
Sunday School: Check
(and the list goes on....)
We look at our spiritual walk as something we check off so that we can move on to the "important" or "pressing" issues. What would happen if, instead of simply "getting it out of the way", we chose to incorporate our time with God into every area of our lives? What if we prayed while we got ready in the morning, and sang songs of praise on our way to work, and pondered/memorized scripture while we cleaned, and asked God to give us wisdom in regards to our finances and simply handed EVERYTHING over to the One who makes all things? I know my life sure would look different. I would find myself being more patient when my husband might not take out the trash in as timely a fashion as I'd like, I would find myself showing more kindness to those who drive like loons on the road, I would find my housework to be a JOY and not a burden because I would be strengthened while I accomplished my daunting tasks. It is amazing when you realize that no matter how hard you work it will all be for nothing if you've not grown in and with the Lord throughout the day... Instead of viewing life as a check list, I encourage you to join me in making your day a constant conversation with the Lord where you also accomplish tasks throughout the day. We can still be busy and have to-do lists just as long as we include the Lord in all that we do and try to thoughtfully take time BE STILL and wait on Him to guide our steps along the journey.
My prayers go out to you as you strive to more fully align your life with the heart of the Lord and I ask that you lift up a prayer for me as well. We can and will see more drastic improvements in all aspects of our lives when we are no longer a big part of the equation :)
-Taylor
Prayer: Check.
Church: Check.
Tithe: Check.
Sunday School: Check
(and the list goes on....)
We look at our spiritual walk as something we check off so that we can move on to the "important" or "pressing" issues. What would happen if, instead of simply "getting it out of the way", we chose to incorporate our time with God into every area of our lives? What if we prayed while we got ready in the morning, and sang songs of praise on our way to work, and pondered/memorized scripture while we cleaned, and asked God to give us wisdom in regards to our finances and simply handed EVERYTHING over to the One who makes all things? I know my life sure would look different. I would find myself being more patient when my husband might not take out the trash in as timely a fashion as I'd like, I would find myself showing more kindness to those who drive like loons on the road, I would find my housework to be a JOY and not a burden because I would be strengthened while I accomplished my daunting tasks. It is amazing when you realize that no matter how hard you work it will all be for nothing if you've not grown in and with the Lord throughout the day... Instead of viewing life as a check list, I encourage you to join me in making your day a constant conversation with the Lord where you also accomplish tasks throughout the day. We can still be busy and have to-do lists just as long as we include the Lord in all that we do and try to thoughtfully take time BE STILL and wait on Him to guide our steps along the journey.
My prayers go out to you as you strive to more fully align your life with the heart of the Lord and I ask that you lift up a prayer for me as well. We can and will see more drastic improvements in all aspects of our lives when we are no longer a big part of the equation :)
-Taylor
