When we are tired, there is an extra temptation to step out of God's will and sit on the sidelines. Sometimes this might be an indication we need a break of some kind. Maybe a nap. If you can't do the nap, wait until after work and just lie down. Turn off the T.V. Rest. Recharge. Plan a small getaway to a friend's house in another city. Ask God to help you to know when it is time for a mini-vacay. Those things are not cop-outs, nor are they unspiritual acts that mean you are an unfocused, uncommitted person. They are the time-outs that save us! They keep us on track!
Every single day of my life, it seems, I cry out to God for help with something. Usually that something is the self-discipline I need to get everything done. Often it is just some encouragement. Lately, I ask Him often to turn my heart back toward home. Heaven is my true home. I need God every hour to keep my mind off of this world and its emptiness. Some days I just plain wake up uninspired. It is so good to know that we don't HAVE to be at the mercy of our feelings. God can transcend them and give us a good, fruitful day anyway.
I have the tendency to obsess, in an all-or-nothing manner, about the things in life that just do not matter much. Today I was thinking about what a drain this habit is on my spiritual destiny, on my relationships. There is no good reason, I have decided, to dwell on anything negative. If there is something negative that must be dealt with, God will show me what I need to do about it. He will also lead me to pray about it. If I am neither praying nor doing anything proactive, what good could it possibly do me to think about it? Praying about the things that trouble us truly turn them around. If, for instance, I am upset that the dog has to go to the vet, instead of obsessing about what might be wrong with him I might say this: "Father, I thank you that you care for my dog because you made him. Flood him with your healing power. Bless my dog, and, while you are at it, bless my cats and my rabbit too! Let my home be awash in your favor." The situation is turned around. I am no longer upset, I am faith-filled, I am expecting my Father to come through for me and for things to be better in the future than they are now. Here are some scriptures to back me up this overcast Monday morning (the start of a week pregnant with possibilities to enjoy serving the Lord):
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Phil. 4:6 (NIV)
"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things."
Phil. 4:8 (NIV)
Every single day of my life, it seems, I cry out to God for help with something. Usually that something is the self-discipline I need to get everything done. Often it is just some encouragement. Lately, I ask Him often to turn my heart back toward home. Heaven is my true home. I need God every hour to keep my mind off of this world and its emptiness. Some days I just plain wake up uninspired. It is so good to know that we don't HAVE to be at the mercy of our feelings. God can transcend them and give us a good, fruitful day anyway.
I have the tendency to obsess, in an all-or-nothing manner, about the things in life that just do not matter much. Today I was thinking about what a drain this habit is on my spiritual destiny, on my relationships. There is no good reason, I have decided, to dwell on anything negative. If there is something negative that must be dealt with, God will show me what I need to do about it. He will also lead me to pray about it. If I am neither praying nor doing anything proactive, what good could it possibly do me to think about it? Praying about the things that trouble us truly turn them around. If, for instance, I am upset that the dog has to go to the vet, instead of obsessing about what might be wrong with him I might say this: "Father, I thank you that you care for my dog because you made him. Flood him with your healing power. Bless my dog, and, while you are at it, bless my cats and my rabbit too! Let my home be awash in your favor." The situation is turned around. I am no longer upset, I am faith-filled, I am expecting my Father to come through for me and for things to be better in the future than they are now. Here are some scriptures to back me up this overcast Monday morning (the start of a week pregnant with possibilities to enjoy serving the Lord):
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Phil. 4:6 (NIV)
"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things."
Phil. 4:8 (NIV)
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