First I talked about how God and I have been meeting recently for some very important one-on-one quiet time. I have found this time to be crucial, powerful, and absolutely necessary in my life so that I can be in tune with what He wants me to do with my time each day.
Then I shared that some of you may have a hard time finding quiet time in the midst of crazy schedules and the terrible twos (which is so not limited to two year olds – if only). I understand the difficulty that comes with trying to find personal devotion time each day.
The first post was not meant to bring on the guilt. The second post was not meant to give you an out. The third post (that would be this one) is letting you know that no matter what your season in life, God is gracious, God understands what you’re going through, and God should come first always.
Your time with God may look different than mine. It doesn’t really matter what it looks like as long as it looks like something. Yes?
Because obviously, this is how we all spend our “quiet time” each day.
I couldn’t even type that with a straight face.
Let me remind you of an important phrase I used in the second post: God understands your need for quiet, and will provide it for you when you ask.
Have you asked?
Take time (there’s that four letter word again) to reflect on how you spend your awake hours each day. We likely all say that God comes first in our list of priorities. But is our life a reflection of that conviction? Mine isn’t always. Sometimes I’d rather play than pray, and that’s just the stinky truth of what sometimes hangs out in my heart as I’m choosing how to spend my time.
Or, if I fall back on the “I’m so busy” excuse, I’m ultimately choosing my kids, my husband, my kitchen, or even my doggone toilets over God. (Although nothin’ says you can’t become one with the toilet bowl while having some powerful prayer time. Been there, done that, glory hallelujah.)
Some questions to consider:
Is the desire to feed your family healthy food taking so much time that you feel “too busy” for anything else? While healthy food is important (this is the Heavenly Homemakers site after all) – if the time it takes to prepare the food is taking hours each day and stressing you out, something needs to change. Continue to learn to serve healthy foods that are simple and quick. (My book and this site are full of info and recipes that combine healthy with simple.) Save the detailed, time consuming recipes for special occasions. Scrambled eggs and fruit are healthy and quick, as are hundreds of other meals and snacks. God first, not food.
When you find yourself with a few moments to spare, do you turn to your Bible and prayer – or to Facebook, blogs, TV, or you-name-it-whatever-you-love-to-do? None of those are evil (usually), but neither are they as rich in blessing as time spent with God.
Have you signed your kids (or yourself) up for too many activities? Ask God to show you if you need to cut back. Running all over town (or out of town) is a time and energy killer. Ask me how I know.
Are you involved with friends and ministries (yes, even really good ones) that keep you on the run so much serving God that you can’t find time to sit with Him? Oh, have I been there. Upon reflection, it turns out that God doesn’t need me to be all and do all. (Surprising fact: He already is all and does all. Without my help.) When I have taken time to ask and listen, He puts me in place with just the ministries He would like me to be a part of. Imagine that.
Share with us! What holds you back? What can you say no to so that you can say yes to God?
