MOTHER'S DAY REFLECTIONS / FATHER'S DAY ANTICIPATIONS
Mother's Day has passed and I pray you all had a very blessed one. Perhaps you received breatkfast in bed, a beautiful bouquet of flowers, or a much-deserved foot-massage! Maybe you didn't get a day off at all and ended up cooking, cleaning up, taking care of children and walking the dog. At least there wasn't a change in routine to throw you off schedule or anything like that :-)
Although the school year is winding down and that may mean the pace is picking up for some of you, indulging in a little "me" time must not be overlooked. That is not a message from our self-centered, egotistical society today, but rather a God-given gift and expectation in the Bible. Even Christ went off by Himself to pray; at the Garden of Gethsemane, and after the Sermon on the Mount.
Psalm 62:5 says, "My soul, wait silently for God alone, For my expectation is from Him." God always has something to say to us, either through His Word or through His Spirit, but it is often difficult for us to listen if we have other distractions around us drowning out His voice. Daniel, Ezekiel and John all received heavenly visions while they were alone. God had something very special to impart just to those chosen individuals and if they had not taken time by themselves to dwell in His presence, He would have not been able to give them those revelations. It makes me think, "What awesome thing am I missing out on, just because I can't be still and quiet long enough to let His Word get through to me?"
In Galatians 6:3-5 we read, "For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For each one shall bear his own load." Spending time alone with the Lord allows us to meditate on His message to us, and also reflect on our own lives and the condition of our hearts. So often, we get so busy and tied up with daily life, we fail to notice the "small" sins or bad habits that are growing bigger every day. We need to constantly be on our guard as explained in 1 Peter 5:8. "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." How easy a target we can be when we are overtired, overworked and overwhelmed by the stress of life!
So, what is our battle strategy against the Evil One? We have to put on our spiritual armour evey day. A few months ago, I composed a devotional based on Ephesians 6; the Armour of God and how many of us are spiritual streakers. Protection from the Devil and preparedness for the day just doesn't plop down from heaven on our breakfast plates every day, (but wouldn't that be nice?). We have to make an effort to spend that time alone with God every day, seeking His will and His wisdom. Now, my family will vouch for the fact that I am most definitely NOT a morning person. Even my students at school would tell me, "Mrs. Young, we've learned not to really talk to you or ask you any hard questions until after 10:00 or so!" But I do crave my time with God in the early mornings before anyone else is up, even if it is just for 15 minutes. By the time the kids and my husband get up, the race is on to beat the clock and finish the morning routine in record time. When I miss my early morning quiet time for some reason, I dread how hurried and hectic the day turns out to be.
Please, moms, don't neglect your well-being in any way, but especially spiritually. God has many blessing and many rewards for you when you come to meet with him every day.
Online Devotional Websites
Well-Being Feature
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