Here I sit at my computer with bits and pieces of thoughts swirling through my mind. The Lord is whispering to me, and I am trying to catch it. Let me see if I can capture it in writing.
Last week I became so aware that my priorities in life are often not the same as the Lord’s. My emotions are like the waves of the sea. Little things such as a messy house or an interrupted nap can throw me into a funk. And big things like a friend struggling with her marriage or a sick neighbor or the salvation of loved ones can affect my outlook very little. My self-centeredness makes me sick. I keep crying out to the Lord, “Change me. Give me Your eyes…Your heart…Your priorities!”
On Wednesday during prayer group, my mom mentioned Psalm 90:12: “So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”
And similar verses began tickling at my mind. Ephesians 5:15-16 says “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.”
One of my pet peeves is wasted time, and I think the Lord would agree. We are commanded to number our days…to redeem the time. We need to abide closely with the Lord so that the things that move His heart move ours as well.
As I sat here singing worship songs this afternoon, I felt my priorities crystallizing. I want to know Jesus better, follow Him harder, glorify Him more. I want to love my husband and son extravagantly. I want to be a help, encouragement, and inspiration to my husband. I want to train up Godly children. I want to love and serve the family, friends, and acquaintances that God brings to me.
I remember a quote from Jim Elliot: “Wherever you are, be all there. Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God.” Yes, I want to do that. I want to work hard, live well, and love extravagantly.
But, I can tell you exactly what will happen the second I walk away from this computer and this time with the Lord. Earthly concerns will come crashing back onto my shoulders. Laundry needs folded. Supper needs prepared. Daniel needs entertained. And I am tired. Pretty soon my heavenly perspective fades, and I am back to surviving instead of thriving. I am enduring the moment instead of living it to the hilt. I am waiting for change instead of enjoying where I am.
What is the answer? How do I maintain that holy perspective? I don’t exactly know. What I do know is this…abiding closely with the Lord is of utmost importance. Striving toward righteousness and repenting when you fail is too.
This quote from the
girltalk blog means so much to me. I have it posted on my fridge, and when I lose my perspective, this helps bring me back.
“Ordinary is where we all live most of the time. And yet our mundane, repetitive days are full of enduring work. Homes are being built. Families are being knit together. Little souls are being shaped for eternity. The tedious is, in fact, momentous—when done for the sake of Christ: ‘…so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior’ (Titus 2:10).”
The Lord gives us small and large tasks to do. And some that we feel to be quite trivial might be the most significant to Him. Regardless of the task, we are called to do it to God’s glory. So, number your days! Redeem the time! Glorify God in everything! Whether you are washing dishes or out on foreign mission fields…whether you are changing diapers or preaching from the pulpit…live it! When your passion fades and your perspective grows dim, turn back to God. He will remind you of the way.
(In case you are wondering, that is a worm in Daniel's hand. A big one. In their search for wildlife under logs, Brian and Daniel ran across a whole slew of them. I'm not usually squeamish about worms, but these didn't thrill me too much.)
Daniel helping Daddy pick a lure.
Daniel reeling in a fish for Uncle Jonathan
Daniel with his grammy
My grandpa trying out his new bee suit
Three generations of Born men.
My dad with his two kids!
My grandpa Johnnie and Brian are like two peas in a pod. They have so many common interests!
