Several days ago our oldest son Micah found a basket of toys in the garage. They were small toys like action figures, race cars and such. They were put in the basket about 2 years ago with the intent of being put into their proper tubs so they could be played with. They have just been sitting there in the garage.
Micah was so excited when he discovered them. He brought them into the kitchen where I was putting dishes away. With each new toy he would dig into the basket and pull out, he would have some elated announcement about which toy he had found. He would tell me how thrilled he was to finally get to play with it again. I said, "Wow, that is sort of like you finding long lost, buried treasure."
That next morning in my alone time with God...my reading of the Old Testament took me to the 4th chapter of Deuteronomy where these verses were nestled.
9 Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.
This was Moses speaking to the children of Israel pleading with them to remember all the Lord had done for them and to pass down the stories of His faithfulness to their children.
I thought about how I have forgotten to give Him the first thoughts, words, writing, reading and worship time of my day. I used to do this faithfully when I was more desperate for Him. I started becoming more stable thru my relationship with God and began to covet sleep more than my morning alone time with Him. I let the joy of those mornings with Him slip from my heart. So this year my primary goal is to dig down deep for the buried treasure of those morning times with Him...and revisit those disciplines that I had in the beginning of my walk. I am returning to my first love...returning to do the things I did at first.
Revelation 2:3-5
3You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. 4Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. 5Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.
I know as I seek Him first He will work everything that concerns me together for my good...even my trials...even my painful experiences...even my shortcomings...He will add all the things to my life that HE thinks I need.
Matthew 6:33-34
33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
So far this year he has given me the grace to get up and spend time with him first thing. I can see the fruit of this time throughout my days. Please pray for me as I continue to allow Him to give me the strength to redevelop this discipline in my life.
What are some buried treasures you need to dig up in your life?
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9 comments:
That's awesome that God showed you those verses after that happened with your son!
Thanks for sharing! It can be easy to set Him aside and forget His blessings.
Sister, I so need to join you on this. I have been LAZY.
I'm so proud of you for getting up early! I know that's a sacrifice and I pray that you will DAILY be blessed by your time with Jesus. Hang in there!! It's worth it!
Good stuff, Shanna! I love the part about remembering Him first! He is our long lost treasure (that I tend to tuck away in the garage intending to come back later to!)
i am not going to try to sound prideful here, i do get up in the morning and give Him the first part of my day - but it easier for me with no kids and now no job- but i have loved getting up and just worshiping Him in the morning- by running or reading his word or something like that... and when i dont i have a REALLY bad day... it seems like he carries me through the day and i love it...thanks for sharing- love ya!!!
I need to do this too. As much as I hate to admit it, I have not been very faithful in this area. I am currently working on a daily schedule, and that is at the top of my list, followed by engaging more with my children. Thank you for the inspiring words and verses as always!
SO good! Don't you just love waking up to those 'new mercies'!
Why do we let that warm cozy bed lie to us??? :) Love you!
I use to feel guilty when I didn't read the bible or have QT, but a mentor called me out on it and said that I had made reading the word a required work - whatever i thought... well, God showed me I had. When I didn't have my QT, I would feel guilty - maybe withdraw, and certainly not go to the throne like I was speaking with God who can do more than we can ask think or imagine...so
I quit reading the word for 4 weeks - I just prayed, but tried not to read it. Through it, I allowed God to remind me of His word already in me - He showed me that I was perfect through Him, and that I was chosen - I was a masterpiece - The Word was on the inside of me... Then, He showed me that I would never know the difference between truth and trash without being in the word AND that I would never understand the power that is in and for me in Christ Jesus - I would never pray for or do what He asked me to do if I always felt guilty for not "doing."
WOW - huge turning point in my life!
Lifting up your AM arms Shanna! Lord, help us all to rise and give you the glory in our homes!
Cindy...let's pray for each other...we can do it!
Robin...thanks so much for the encouragement!
Christi...He is our treasure isn't he?
Misti...you are one of the most disiplined people I know...can you share some of your discipline with me :)
Jenny...I will pray for you..you pray for me too
Christie...the warm cozy bed is such a deceiver...but a very good deceiver :)
Sheri...I hate anything that feels like a law...I have a law-aversion :) That is why I always want to make sure He is leading me so that my motive is right...sounds like you received wise counsel!
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