In our summer devotional series we've talked about guidelines for choosing our devotional area that works with your family's schedule. We've looked at ways to dress it up so it becomes inviting and personal. And we gave a couple ideas to jump start your imagination allowing you to turn that area into something uniquely yours ~ a place to find God's presence and rest. We want it to be a retreat, a spot where our heart longs to be to connect with God. It becomes our hideaway, that place of rest where everything except Him ~ and blessed quiet ~ fades away. Now, we'll look at how to find time in our daily schedules for a devotional routine. We need to examine our daily schedules. There’s no doubt that our lives are head-spinning busy, but God is bigger than that busyness. So, let's look at some common time-grabbers:
Charting your daily time spent on social media and watching TV can give you huge options for recovering valuable minutes for that much-needed devotional time. Just a couple thoughts on why is it important to be in charge of your schedule. Simply, as a wife and mother you are often the first-responder. You need to be prepared spiritually with wisdom and strength to respond to those needs of your spouse, children, and of course, your own needs as well. These are freely available to us when we spend regular time with God. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. James 1.5 We are each given a numbered amount of days. Thinking we can always have God time tomorrow might not work out. Each day is a gift and IMPORTANT for how it challenges ~ and for what it teaches. “Lord, let me know my end, and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is.” Ps 39.4 Spending time with God is the absolute biggest return we can hope for. It makes the difference in how we function and succeed. This is how God designed us. I know, finding time is difficult, but try it. I'm right on this one! ~ Andi
0 Comments
Pulled from our archives on Priscilla Schirer's book: Fervent... On page 18 Priscilla describes how she began developing strategies with her own prayers: “… I began by considering my most pressing dilemmas--the ones raging in my own heart, my family, my finances, my health, my ministry--and then started writing down my own battle plans for dealing with them, based on the truths of Scripture...” Building prayers on Scripture can be as simple as inserting your name into a biblical prayer. You do not need to use the entire prayer as found in scripture either. The parts that you feel apply to you are all that’s necessary. I strung many prayer-parts together when building mine. God knows what I’m asking - so do I. Also allow your prayers to change over the days. It's EVIDENCE the Holy Spirit is meeting you in your needs!!! Can we make up our own prayers? Yes, you can. But here’s what I have found when I use biblical prayers… They feel different, more real and personal. You have heard the phrase, the Living Word, well, it refers to the interactive nature of the Bible with your life. Interacting with Scripture can bring us change, forgiveness, courage. Whatever we may need in those tough times the Word of God can supply simply by us interacting in reading and prayer. Remember when you read Scripture you are participating in a two-way conversation. A RELATIONSHIP. You are having a living, breathing dialogue with God. ~ Andi Last week we looked at how to find a place in our home where we can design a holy space for our devotional time. Here are the guidelines that help in that selection:
Any space can become holy. It’s your choice with no room off limits. Some options are: A closet? Hobby area? A corner of a larger room? A cozy stairwell? A sunroom or porch? When you've found your special place you can begin creating a feeling of holiness within that area. One example is adding personal mementos (like the image above) that warm your heart. Is there something your child made just for you that brings back precious memories? Placing it in this space helps us focus on positive, loving thoughts. That's gives us a head start when sitting down with God. Other choices may be a special blanket or chair. Anything that makes this space unique, personal and comfortable is our goal. When you have added small touches, or perhaps big ones, take a moment to stand back and ask yourself, "Does this area call my heart to come?" This holy place that you have been creating needs to be inviting, so when you hit those days that challenge your determination to meet with God, a gentle nudging from this area may call you back. It's our daily time with our LORD that gives us POWER, RESTORATION and PEACE. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. -Matthew 11:28 [emphasis mine] ~ Andi Wouldn’t it be wonderful to ask the LORD, ‘Open my eyes that I may see the power of Your Kingdom around me!,’ and have everything opened so you could see that power at work behind the scenes? Then Elisha prayed: “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the servant, and he saw; the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 2 Kings 6:17 Wouldn’t it be wonderful to ask and see? I'd go around all day asking about what He was up to in my life and in my husband’s life, and especially in the lives of our children and grandbabies. Wouldn't you ask? How amazing would that be? What would it take to have that kind of relationship with God? Last week we talked about having our own holy ground, a special, quiet space in our home for our devotionals and prayer. This week we are going to look at Part II. There are some things to keep in mind when choosing your space. Remember you are looking for an area where quiet and privacy can be available. When you choose a possible spot, ask yourself the following:
Wouldn’t it be wonderful to ask the LORD open my eyes and know you will see? There’s only one way to create that potential. You need a Divine relationship. Finding and creating that holy ground, where you and the Lord can share quiet, holy time together is key, because in this space you will learn to see His power at work! ~ Andi |
To get automatic updates click: RSS Feed
Your Host:
|