The first thing on my to do list every day is this: “Be loved, and listen.” Typically for me (and it’s different for everyone) that happens first thing in the morning. I get up early, maybe grab some coffee and head to one of my favorite spots to sit. (Right now it is the back porch, which is like a treehouse looking out over the woods.) I’ll read some Bible verses or a short devotion. And focus on filling up my heart with God’s incredible love for me. And then, in that deep quiet, I will try to hear what He might be saying to me.
Today wasn’t one of those days. I woke up late, glanced down at my phone. O my, I have a video conference call in 10 minutes. I rushed around, got set up, and grabbed a cup of coffee. Did the meeting. After I signed off, I clicked on Pinterest. 3 hours later the phone rang, jolting me out of cyber-fog. Sigh. The day was half gone. Was I really on Pinterest for the last 3 hours? Why do I do that? What a waste of time! I glanced at the calendar. Oh shoot. I have an appointment in 1 ½ hrs. OK what else is on my to do list? Let’s see…#1 Spend time with God. No. I don’t have time for that. Maybe I’ll just skip that today.
Sometimes on days like this I do skip spending time with God. And God’s OK with that. He isn’t standing above me tapping His foot and looking at His watch because He’s annoyed that I missed that time with Him.
But when I can, even in the middle or the end of the day, I just stop. Take a minute or 2—or 5 or 10. Breathe. Reach out…reach in to God. Focus my mind on something besides myself, or my day unraveling in front of me. Why? I’ve learned that no matter where I am—emotionally, physically or temporally—when I connect with Jesus, things are better. I’m better. My peace meter goes up. My anxiety meter goes down. My swaying life-boat rights itself in the ocean of God’s presence.
Is your day getting away from you? Just stop. Take a moment. Breathe. Reach out…reach in to God. Refresh. Re-center. God’s inner calm will settle your heart, and set you back on the right path.
Don’t miss the other posts in this series!
First Things First, Part 1: #1 On My To-Do List
First Things First, Part 2: The Key
First Things First, Part 3: Listen
First Things First Part 4: How God Can Speak Through the Bible
First Things First, Part 6: Why Listening to God is So Important
[…] First Things First, Part 5: How to get back on track with God when life happens […]