Dave Helm preached a great sermon at church last night about making time to spend with the Lord. Every meaningful relationship requires quality time spent together. Our relationship with God is no different.
As soon as Dave started preaching, I had to laugh to myself. Just that very morning, JP and I had sat down to read together from the One Year Bible. We were a few days behind and had some catching up to do. I wanted to hurry through it so I could get back to the thousands of things I felt like I needed to do...the pile of dishes in the kitchen, the laundry, checking my email, etc.
For some reason, JP was reading ESPECIALLY slow that day. He would pause after every verse, ponder it, then his eyes would light up with revelation and he would share what he had just learned. He was obviously having a very fruitful time in the Word. And I was annoyed. VERY annoyed. It was taking so long!!! I could have been finished reading by now! I was irritated that he wanted to look up every name we came across to see what it meant. I was growing fidgety and restless. Finally I started dropping hints that I wanted him to hurry it up.
JP gently rebuked me and told me that it wasn't about catching up or getting through the reading. If we didn't learn anything, it was pointless. I knew he was right, but I was still glad when we were finally done and I could get up and go on with my day.
Needless to say, Dave's word was very timely. :) I thank God for His faithfulness to screw my head on straight when it needs it.
One other thing to any single people out there reading this: It really is true when the Bible talks about married people being distracted. Before I was married, I used to get up, read my Bible, spend time singing to worship music as I got ready for the day, etc. Now I wake up, change a diaper, get breakfast for the baby, breakfast for JP, lunch for JP, let the dogs out, clean the baby up after breakfast, get her dressed...you get my point. I am distracted by taking care of my husband and daughter - finding time to be alone with God is far more difficult. JP and I read together, but that doesn't substitute for my own time with the Lord. I look back on the days when it was just me & Jesus and wish I had cherished them more. So even though you may desire a husband and family (which is a wonderful desire), be sure to be thankful for the time you have now with Jesus.
4 comments:
This is a good reminder, Audra - thanks for posting it.
Isn't it funny when the sermon is about something that speaks directly to your life at the time... it's like you want to look around and say "Did he read my mind? This is totally about ME."
Amen to that. When the whole congregation was chuckling because Dave is neither married (yet) nor a parent, what was really happening was the Holy Spirit's piercing conviction on our hearts. While "two hours" of quiet time may be an unrealistic goal for many, it's about taking the next step. There's ALWAYS time. There's time right now...I gotta go :)
I would comment on this post, but I gotta go read my Bible (or, better said...I get to go read my Bible.) =)
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