Lately my heart and mind has been plagued with doubt. My confidence as a wife and mother has been lacking. I am irritated and impatient. What is going on?
This morning I have been bombarded by emails, Facebook posts and blog feeds that are graciously showing me just what the problem is. I have been leaving out the most important being in my life.
The first thing I read was an email about “checking in” with Jesus through daily prayer. The man in the story would visit a church over his lunch break and pray:
“I just came again to tell you, Lord, how happy I have been since we found each other’s friendship and you took away my sin. Don’t know much of how to pray, but I think about you every day. So, Jesus, this is Jim checking in today.”
Then I read this verse on a Facebook post: Job 8:21 “He will yet fill your mouth with laughing, and your lips with rejoicing.”
Next I read a blog post about focusing on following Jesus, not on who is following us. Immediately after that I read another blog post about Jesus making us uncomfortable in an effort to bring us closer to Him.
Wow.
So apparently I must not be paying much attention to God’s little whispers lately. Not apparently, I know I have not been turning to Him each day. I am guilty of not checking in for sure. I get so caught up in my day, my problems, my to-do list, not getting my to-do list done, etc., etc., my, my, my.
The ridiculous thing is that I know better. I know I am not capable of taking the reigns. I am painfully aware of what happens when I go throughout my day with Him. So today I start over…again.
Here I am, Lord, checking in.
Psalm 31:14-15
“But as for me, I trust in You, O LORD; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in Your hand;”
By Sarah Hawbaker,…In Total Disarray
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So true with 90% of us. We just forget to check in with him (until something goes wrong!). I am so guilty of that! So, here I am Lord checking in today.
I am a better wife, mom and employee when I remember to “check in” with Jesus. I too allow myself to be pulled away. I love that he continues to pursue me even in my busyness.
Just wondering if you could give a link to the blog you mentioned, where you read about “Jesus making us uncomfortable in an effort to bring us closer to Him” at. Sounds interesting. Thanks for your always lovely & thoughtful posts.
Here is the link to that post I mentioned: http://bigfaithtobiglife.blogspot.com/2011/07/whatcha-think.html
conviction sharp and clean pierced my heart as i read your post……I am so glad His mercies are new every day for i sure used up all of it today. just heard this good message on how uncertain times loosen up our securities buried deep within us. God is doing a lot of loosening in my life right now and I could find tons of excuses to excuse my bad behavior away if it weren’t for reminders such as your honest post…thank you Sarah.
So true of me too. And I have time to spend with Him. I just flitter it away. Thank you for the gentle reminder. <3
Oh how He always, always, ALWAYS gives us that slack to drift a little, and then how He reminds us that our fulfillment comes from Him alone. We were created to be strengthened through Him. And when we make Him our priority each day, our focus is more closely aligned to what He wants for us. This is such a great reminder of the true importance of our days.
Rich blessings, Sarah, as you continue to trust your Father for your days…
Sarah,
I begin each day listening to the Bible – I read through the Bible each year – as I prepare food for my pets, pack hubby’s lunch, etc. I then read devotionals, if they’re in e-mail.
I also try to throw in some exercise/me time before I go to work and hit it hard. This can’t always be easy with 3 kids under 6. If you make time for you and God then your day will be much better.
I find if I skip any of that then my day goes awry, nothing gets done as planned, and I feel yucky!
What a great post and even better, an important reminder. It’s amazing the difference checking in can make.
Love this! It reminds me to trust in Him when things aren’t going the way I want them to. I may be missing the point of all this but would love to learn more!
Isn’t it awesome how God reaches us in the simplest ways. He knew that you would be checking e-mails and facebook so He reached you in those ways!
smooches,
Larie
Please send LOTS of encouragement & LOTS of Prayers to Sister Debbie Newby debrah_Newby@yahoo.com
I was listening to this Sara Groves song this morning: “How is it Between Us” and was thinking the same thing.
Thanks for sharing the Job passage. I love that!
“Woke up on the wrong side of the bed, the wrong side of the room, the wrong side of the world. Can’t put my finger on the mood. It’s not melancholy, anger or the blues. I love my husband, my house, my job. Couldn’t be any better, and really what else is there? Then I realize I’m forgetting God, and that’s the root of all my misery. Lord, first of all, how is it between you and me?” -Sara Groves/George Wilson
Bridget- Thanks for sharing! I think so many of us can relate to the words in this song. We go about our days and something just feels “off.”
So true………..
I’m checking in right now :0)
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