I am a girl with lots of ideas. I love home improvement projects and changing a space with paint. But at times I have terrible follow through. I start something and then get really close to finishing it and stop.
This is evident most in my recent toy room re-do. I have everything done, except painting 2 long shelves that hang on the wall. I can’t hang my pictures until I hang my shelves. I need to get those darn shelves painted already.
I have avoided it for the past 4-5 weekends. I know if I just set out to do it…I would get it done and I’d be so happy with the results. I really have no excuse except that I am lazy at times!
The same goes for exercise.
I am not one of those people who LOVES exercise. I despise it in fact, it hurts during and after and I don’t get the results I want overnight…so I commit for a day or 2 and then quit.
This seems to be my “MO”.
And committing my time to God has suffered the same results, until recently.
Last fall I was asked to participate in a 40 Day Prayer Challenge with a group of other women. We read/listened to Mark Batterson’s devotional and committed to praying for 40 days. Knowing my track record, I didn’t think I would make it past day 5…but I wanted to spend more time getting to know about God and felt this was a great way to start.
To my surprise, I went through the entire 40 days and didn’t miss one! I journaled every morning and committed to praying for our son who is a senior. He has some big life choices ahead and I wanted to cover him in prayer.
This 40 days was life changing for me. I had started to develop a spiritual discipline and was working my “muscles” every day. It felt good. I was listening for God, seeking His path and documenting all the ways He was answering my prayers.
But I wanted to take it further. I knew that if I wanted to see and understand who God was, I needed to get into His Word.
My husband bought me (after much hinting) a journaling Bible for Christmas.
This too has transformed my time in the Word. Feeling free to write, underline and highlight my way through His promises has created a desire for more. (<===Click to Tweet)
Each morning I get up an hour before I need to take a shower. It is early and I am so tired, but it is important. I start with the prompts from She Reads Truth, then join in my Hello Mornings online group and recently have been going back through the Circle Maker as a walk through Lent.
I will be honest, I have missed a few mornings. But this time in God’s Word has become a lifeline to me.
I tend to get a little squirrely when I am not spending at least 15 minutes each morning in some form of quiet time. I can tell a difference when I choose to sleep in. I am more snappy and less patient.
As I continue to develop this routine I am building those spiritual muscles. I am more confident in God’s love for me. The past month has be TOUGH personally. I am working struggling through some things that typically would bring me to a point of hopelessness and defeat. But as I have committed time to God, He has committed His promises to my mind.
Those promises remind me of who I am through Him.
He is my strength and strong tower.
He upholds me with His right hand.
He has a plan and a purpose for my life.
He told me there would be trouble, but to have heart because He has overcome the world.
With each new day I am reminded time and time again why I need to hold onto hope. And we all need a little of that don’t we?!
It can be hard to get into the routine, but I promise you when you do you will be filled with blessings overflowing!
What has been your roadblock to more time with God?
Joining my friends over at the High Calling.
