Some may have noticed that I have not been too active here for the past few weeks. Our son and his fiance are getting married at our home next month and I have been spending a lot of time trying to whip our property into shape before the wedding. Between staining decks, painting doors and doing some minor inside renovations I have been quite busy. It’s a good busy, but it has not left me with a lot of free time to write.

Because I work full time, some of this work has been done when I get home in the evenings. After working my job and then working at home I have found myself a little more tired than usual. This has resulted in me spending less time reading my Bible and more time plunked in front of the news, or other programs in the evening when I finally get to relax.  I noticed on Sunday, that I was beginning to feel a little overwhelmed with everything. It is amazing how in such a short period of time we can become caught up in the cares of the world when we don’t balance those cares with enough time in the Word and talking with the One who knows us best. Though I seldom get stressed about trivial things, I was beginning to let things get to me that normally wouldn’t.  I was spending so much time worrying about getting things done that I was neglecting to do the thing I needed to do most and that was talking to God. I noticed I was missing my prayer time.  I mean deep daily prayer time, time where I get to  talk to God about everything going on in my life, intercede for the needs of others and ask Him to lead me throughout the day.

It’s been great getting jobs accomplished around the house. It’s been good to be busy but shortening my prayer time and time in the Word has left me feeling a little more sapped than usual leaving me less inclined to cast off discouragement and worry and more inclined to respond to events and opportunities with a poor attitude. That poor attitude causes me to lose my peace. Obviously, I still have plenty to learn about balancing my responsibilities with my devotional time!   🙂

I’m so glad that we serve a Savior that is loving and forgiving. That woos us back to Him, despite our distractions. That longs to spend time with us just as we long to spend time with Him.  Today as I read James 4:7-10 NKJV, it spoke volumes.  ⁷ Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. ⁸ Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.⁹ Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.¹⁰ Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

It’s time to take the time to draw near to the One who loves me.  He will give me the strength to do all I need to do and more and to do it with the right attitude! As I lay aside my striving and humble myself in His sight, He will lift me up!

“We never grow closer to God when we just live life. It takes deliberate pursuit and attentiveness.” ~Francis Chan