As I write, it’s eight o’clock on a dewy summer morning here in the farmlands of the Midwest.
Earlier, I worked out with my daughter, though I had to cut my session short because of a minor shoulder injury. After that, I cleaned and refilled my birdfeeders. The hummingbirds in particular appreciate a clean feeder and fresh nectar.
I have a long list of other to-do’s today: pruning boxwood bushes, weeding a perennial bed, planting some clematis plants that arrived in the mail earlier this week, and putting the final coats of weather sealer on a couple of benches my daughter and I have been refinishing.
When the temperatures rise, I’ll head inside to cook for my youngest son’s birthday party, which we will celebrate on Saturday. I’ll be making his cake (chocolate with chocolate mint filling), along with homemade ice cream, a potato casserole, and more.
And then, of course, there’s laundry – the chore that never ends.
When I look at a list like that, I tend to want to jump in with both feet and cut my devotional time short.
But experience has taught me that the more I have to do, the more time with God I need before I do it. His comforting Holy Spirit both energizes and calms me for the day to come. The more time I spend with him, the more my actions – and reactions to my family throughout the day – are influenced by him.
So, as soon as this post hits cyberspace, I’ll be headed out to my front porch to read the Bible and a devotional, pray, and meditate on God’s goodness for a bit before attacking my list.
I encourage you, no matter what may be on your to-do list, place time with the Savior at the top. It’s not something we should ever skip, no matter how busy we may be.
O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; to see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary. Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. – Psalm 63:1-3
How do you prepare to face the day? What are your thoughts on the importance of regular devotions?
Psalm 63 was the one we heard Casting Crowns sing this morning! Coincidence? I think not.
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Ah! So true!
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Being Catholic and ordained, I am required to pray from the Liturgy of the Hours in the morning and evening every day. It has become not just a requirement, but a vital part of the day’s agenda, and I can tell the difference in how a day flows on the rare occasion that it doesn’t get done. I tell my parishoners and anyone else who will listen: start with God first, and the rest of the day falls into place. — Mike
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Amen, Mike! I feel the same.
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How sweet are your words for the Lord! I’m sure He cherishes every moment you give Him, Meredith! He loves you so much! ❤
My morning devotion is still copying the bible by hand, in hopes to that I will pay better attention to what is being said, and to improve my penmanship.
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Great idea, Gail!
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❤ 🙂
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Love this so much!! What a sweet reminder to start each day in the presence of the One who blesses us with our days!!
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Thanks and blessings to you, Rachael!
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Such a busy momma bear. Hope to see more of you soon 🙂
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😊
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I love this so much! I often find myself wanting to hurry through my devotional time to complete my list of to do’s. It’s hard to stop myself from rushing through, but I totally agree with you that when this happens we need even more time with God! Thanks for the reminder.
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Lovely comment, Brianna. I feel fortunate in that I have several quiet places I can go to have my devotions. I’ve intentionally made our front porch (we live in the country) comfortable and pretty this year to make it an inviting place to go for quiet time.
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Always humbled to be mentioned in your posts, T.R. Thank you!
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