Friday, March 17, 2017

A Good Start

“Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.”
 Psalm 103:1 (KJV)

As I age, seasonal and time changes affect me more. My physical body is reluctant to adjust with each one. Taking their cue from me, my dogs are also loath to change their daily routine.

Quiet time with the Lord in prayer and Bible reading strengthens both body and mind. It keeps the line of communication open to God. It is a two-way conversation – our hearts and minds need to be clear to receive His word for us.

Some of my favorite Bible passages are in the book of Psalms. Sung by the Israelites in worship, they are hymns of praise, comfort, peace, and hope. Many Christian churches today sing them as choruses or have expanded them into modern hymns. These give me comfort and open my heart for worship.

I have discovered that adding songs of praise to my morning prayer time eases the struggle I face physically. Remarkably, the aches, pains, and tiredness of my body fade when the Lord becomes my focus.

We are to praise the Lord in all things. Set your mind on Him and lift your voice in song. It doesn’t matter if you are blessed with a “singing” voice; we are to make a joyful noise. Not only does it please the Lord, you will experience a special closeness to God.

Dear Lord,
Thank you for allowing me the blessing of worship and fellowship with You.

Thursday, March 9, 2017

Squirrel!

“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” I Corinthians 10:13 (KJV)

Distractions.

They come in all shapes and sizes. Activities that absorb minutes, then hours, then days. Some are important to our daily lives, such as work, chores, family, and friends. All worthy of our attention. If allowed, less important activities will eat the remaining time. Shallow lives with shallow thoughts can become the norm.

Unfortunately, squirrels (distractions) pull our focus from the things of God toward the temporary. Just as I must remind my dachshunds of the task when they go out to potty, the Lord must direct us.

It has been said that time is a gift. One that, once spent, cannot be replenished. Nor are we guaranteed the amount of time given to us on earth.

The Lord knows the temptations that distract each of us. He provides a light to draw our focus back to Him. As Christians, we have all the tools to help us stay centered: Read the Bible, Pray, Fellowship, and Worship. Time spent on these things increase our ability to ignore the squirrels. The more we ponder the things of God, the less tempted by the world we become.

Dear Lord,
Thank you for Your faithfulness in providing an escape from the distractions that turn my focus away from You. Help me spend my time wisely.