I wake up early, excitment verberating through my mind and body. I'm going to get dressed, have some actual quiet time to refresh my spirit and draw close to the Lord, shore up my strength for the battle and start reading the first day of my new personal challenge "31 Days to Clean: Having a Martha House the Mary Way" which you can find at http://31daystoclean.com
Aaaachooooooo! Achoo! Achoo! Achoo!Achoo!Achoo!Achoo! Ugh, right away I'm off to a bad start as my allergies organize a massive attack before I even swing my feet out of bed. My eyes are swollen, my nose is running and my brain is dizzy from all of the sneezing.
But I push through,
Briefly I contemplate telling her to go back to her room until I come up to get her, but then Guilt whispers, "What kind of mother would do that?!" "A desperate one!" I grumble back.
I finally settle for getting my daughter set up watching some mind numbing cartoons at a very low volume so I can have some semi-quiet time with God and read Day 1. While doing that my 18 mos starts screaming, not just crying screaming! from her room, again another child up almost an hour earlier than normal, what is going on?!?!?
This time I give Guilt a body slam and decide to leave the baby alone, after all she can't get out of her room like my 4yr old, so she *has* to stay put until I get her and she can't argue with me, although I suppose screaming counts as arguing...sigh, well maybe I can tune that out...
I sit down,
If I am distracted long enough, the Enemy knows from past experience that I will give up, retreat, run away...
Bwahahahahaha, NOT today Enemy, you're in for a suprise! I am rallying my snuffly rag tag forces and pushing through! I've even cancelled going to my Monday morning Moms Coffee to make sure I get this right. Nyah Nyah...I must confess I feel a bit like that scene in Braveheart where they moon the enemy troops :)
I may not get my full sweet hour of prayer, but I recently read in another blog
Raising Homemakers : Quiet Times for Desperate Mothers a fabulous idea based on this verse:
Exodus 16:4,18 says, “I will rain bread from heaven for you; the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day…He who gathered much had no excess and he who gathered little had no lack.”
Basically God provided sustenance for His people as they wandered the desert, but He provided EXACTLY what they needed for that PRESENT day, regardless of whether they "stocked up" or only gathered the smallest bit, it was enough for the whole day!
If God would provide for the physical needs of His people, why on earth would we thinkg Him not capable of providing our spiritual sustenance?! He knows our life. He sees as we come under fire everytime we try to take one step closer to Him. Do you think he would leave us alone, stranded, being cut down by enemy fire, unable to get to the safety of His arms?
He is NOT an aloof God, sitting watching us from afar wringing His hands, saying, "Oh IF only they had the strength to get to Me, sigh, I guess they'll never make it...." NO!! What a twisted thought process we have to think that, another attack from the enemy. God is in the trenches with us, just waiting for us to finally accept His help, not waiting for us to fight off the enemy alone.
So don't forgo your time with God because the kids wake up early, or the dishwasher breaks and floods the kitchen, or whatever other attacks the Enemy may attempt to turn you away from your goal, drawing closer to God. Take the five minutes you can carve out, even if you only get to read one verse, carry it in your mind all day, meditate on it and God will provided all of the sustenance you need for this day.
Ok, I'm off to carve out my five minutes...Father, I'm asking You to provide for me, just as You did Your people in the desert. I am in the desert right now spiritually and only You can lead me out, into the promised land flowing with milk and honey. Give me wisdom, please, to see where You lead me and strength to follow You. Amen.
