This morning I marinated in the last Bible study entry from a study called He Speaks to Me. It's a Bible study hosted by my church and it looked at how we, as Christians, can position ourselves to hear from God. It was a very good study. As always, God worked the study into my world. To hear from God we need to make time to study His word and set apart time to be still. I also try to do some reading in the morning before the kids wake up, but this particular principle and God's leading encouraged me to change my schedule around a bit. It's only half an hour earlier, but instead of waking up at 6:30am for showers, Bible study, and what-not, I now get up at 6:00am and dedicate that entire hour to showers, Bible study, and what-not. It's been two weeks since I made this commitment.
I did not, however, wake up at 6:00am on Saturday. I just have to be honest. I asked God what I should do about Saturday morning on Friday night as I lay down to sleep. I didn't have a great yearning either way, so I decided that if I naturally woke up at 6:00am I would do the usual routine and let Brad sleep in. I woke up that morning at exactly 6:00am. Unfortunately I reneged on my commitment and went back to sleep. It was a very relaxing morning, because Brad woke up thinking it was Friday, so he jumped out of bed before he realized his mistake. I'm still going to have to pray earnestly for God's will on my Saturday mornings, because I would love a day to sleep in. However, I want God's will for my life over comfort.
Like I said, it's been two weeks since I made this commitment due to God's leading. Wouldn't you know it that every single night there has been something that prevented me from going to bed on time. Whether it was Alynna's crankiness or a late night chat with a family friend I have been unable, every single night, to go to bed at a time that seems reasonable to me to offset that half hour.
Not only that, but there have been several days this week where I felt God's leading in skipping my afternoon nap! I'll have lunch in solitude and take some time to read a book for pleasure and maybe take a ten to twenty minute nap. Other days I'll have a clear understanding that I should rely on God's strength to get me through. Other days I'll try my best to take a nap and wouldn't you know it but Alynna will wake up or I'll start getting phone calls.
I'm also, at this time, reading a book called The Heavenly Man, which is a true story about a Chinese missionary in Communist China. It's a sobering book, because the man is persecuted terribly for his convictions. I think God is once again weaving this principle into my life. I, obviously, am not having to rely on God for strength as I'm being beaten to a pulp, but I am, in my spoiled American life, relying on God for my hour-by-hour schedule and needs with the three children who are quite demanding.
I wanted to share this aspect of my life, because I find it interesting. I love it when God allows me to understand a small breath of what He's working in my life for good.
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