Fulfilling a promise to myself to read my Bible every day, I woke this morning at 5:30. Lest I come off like a do-gooder who “rises and shines for Jesus because I’m just that awesome” rest assured I don’t have much choice in the matter. I have to hit the road for work every day by 6:30 a.m. or I’ll extend my hour long commute by another 30 minutes. (I’m trying to live a Christian life. Last I checked “excessive road rage” and screaming “Who gave you a driving license, Moron!” was not part of the lifestyle description.)
Armed with my Disney mug of coffee and my peanut butter toast (so much for the Great Carb Embargo of 2013) I grabbed the Good Book along with my Roman’s study workbook, attempting to ignore another good book winking at me from the coffee table. And really, that was no easy task, given it was Diana Galbadon’s follow up book to Outlander – a rollicking romance/adventure book set in the Scottish Highlands.
Slowly, sighing, I pick up my NIV. “The Bible has waaay better dudes than some hot red headed clansman,” I try to convince myself. But my swirling brain isn’t buying it. Either the coffee hasn’t kicked in yet or my spiritual muscles are just being lazy from lack of use. Likely, both. (Note: I’m quite certain the Scottish Highlander from Gabaldon’s book could jolt me awake in an instant but I am a married woman… who is also digressing… so let’s continue with this Bible reading, shall we?)
“Where do I start?” I sighed to myself, flipping through pages and pages of Scripture questions to answer. I pictured Roman’s author, Paul, freezing in his jail cell with a pain in his side. This didn’t keep him from writing one of the most influential books of the Bible. Why couldn’t I just take 15 minutes to read some of it?
“Because you’re just too busy with your own important life,” is the answer my brain comes up with. Or maybe it’s the Holy Spirit messing with. Honestly, the only thing I know for sure is that I’m feeling very discombobulated. Overwhelmed. Frazzled. Since starting my new job, I’d gotten two weeks behind in my lessons. Having to quit my regular Bible study didn’t help. Without my ladies holding me accountable, I let stuff slide.
“Perhaps this just isn’t my season for study,” I thought to myself for a few weeks. “I can’t do it all. I can’t spend 600 minutes a week in traffic/ work 40 hours/ make lunches in the mornings/ connect with the kids after school/ help with homework/ call family members and friends/ get my husband up to speed on the food shopping/ shop for Christmas (Oh, man… Christmas shopping) without losing the hair on my head.
Except that, last I heard, Jesus created those hairs on my head. But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows. —Luke 12:7 If I don’t make His Word a priority, the language coming from my mouth are going to be far from pretty. In fact, I believe my exact response to my son about tripping over one of his Pikachu notebooks was, “Clean your room or I swear on all things Pokemon and Bey Blade I will burn it to the ground.”
I’ll take “Lost a Little Perspective for 500” please! Yes, it was time to get it back. Not just for me and my family, but for Pokemon’s and Bey Blade’s everywhere. It was time to prioritize.
And so this morning that’s what I did. With the Christmas lights sparkling on my stairwell, and the tiny collection of porcelain houses emanating yellow rays from my piano, I gave thanks for God’s light and God’s house. I thanked Him for the church He provided for me after years of search – for good solid teaching that encourages me daily to take time out for Him.
I thanked Him for giving me a guideline to focus on what matters, not the petty circumstances of my own insecurities and others’ opinions. I can have security in Him. It’s His opinion I need.
I thanked Him for dying on the cross for me – despite me being far from worthy for His sacrifice – because that means I don’t have to be perfect in order to gain His affection. I don’t have to be perfect to gain my family’s affection. I don’t have to be perfect even to gain my own. I just have to rest in the knowledge that He is enough. Everything will work out if I can just trust Him.
And that prayer, my friends, was validated shortly afterwards when I read Roman’s today. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. —Romans 8:28
Fifteen minutes changed everything. As much as my self-important/ oh so clever/ just too busy to buy this spiritual stuff wants to scoff, I’ve felt more peace than I have in weeks. That God, He’s a cheeky one. I think I’ll keep Him around.
Leave a comment: What about you? Can you put in 15 minutes a day? And if so, when do you do it?
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