What I like about staying at home and not going to the office when I am sick is to catch a few moments of stillness and quiet when Brian is at work, my eldest daughter has already left for school, the baby is napping, and the middle one is engrossed in playing with her Barbie dolls. Then I make myself a cup of tea or coffee, open my daily devotionals book and read. Currently, it is “Come away, my beloved” by Frances J. Roberts.
One of the Bible verses I have been meditating on, as I have been reading this book, is Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him”. Amidst the busyness of my life and all of my responsibilities, it is really hard to find peace and quiet on a regular basis to be alone with God. I was confronted by this verse, particularly by the phrase ‘earnestly seek Him’. Do I really seek Him in all earnest? Am afraid to leave things at hand, to underperform, or to lose control over the multitude of daily tasks I am responsible for? Sadly, it is only when I get sick and am forced to slow down and rest, I realize what’s the most important.
Tarry not for an opportunity to have more time to be alone with Me. Take it, though you leave the tasks at hand. Nothing will suffer. Things are of less importance than you think... I love you, and if you can always, as it were, feel My pulse beat, you will receive insight that will give you sustaining strength.
Tarry not for an opportunity to have more time to be alone with Me. Take it, though you leave the tasks at hand. Nothing will suffer. Things are of less importance than you think... I love you, and if you can always, as it were, feel My pulse beat, you will receive insight that will give you sustaining strength.
Recently, I have been mediating on the same issue - whether I should leave things as they are and devote my most productive time in the morning, when Mark sleeps, to God (quiet time) or whether I should work or study. As practice showed if I do not dedicate this time to God I wouldn't dedicate any time during the day... But I have so many responsibilities, how could I leave them?!
ReplyDeleteGod provides everything we need. I noticed that when I devote this time to Him I get so many insights and wisdom about all other things in my life, including work, family life, and studies so that I become more productive. May be it is lucrative impulse but I'm longing currently to meet with God and listen quetly to Him, I seek His wisdom in my life.
22 And He said to His disciples, "For this reason I say to you, do not worry about {your} life, {as to} what you will eat; nor for your body, {as to} what you will put on.
23 "For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.
24 "Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap; they have no storeroom nor barn, and {yet} God feeds them; how much more valuable you are than the birds!
25 "And which of you by worrying can add a {single} hour to his life's span?
26 "If then you cannot do even a very little thing, why do you worry about other matters?
27 "Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.
28 "But if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is {alive} today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more {will He clothe} you? You men of little faith!
29 "And do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not keep worrying.
30 "For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things.
31 "But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you.
(Lk.12:22-31)
Maria Bartashevich