The Joy of Sprinting

We've all done it.

We pray diligently and we’re certain we know the next step in God’s plan. So, why wait? Let’s go sprinting down the path as fast as we can.

There’s a problem with that: sprinters dash for short distances and then they’re pooped.

We zip along and, when we’re exhausted, we look to God for strength. Surprise, surprise, He’s not there! We look behind us and there He is: “You ran off and left Me. You’re supposed to follow, not lead.” 

I did that with my blog and here I am, two years later, out of breath. I outran God. It was an enjoyable challenge at first; now it’s a burden.

Why did I start in the first place? Simply put, I had a published Bible study, Storms of Life, and no idea how to market it. I read how-to articles by social-media gurus. The consensus: Start a blog.

What should I write about? My heart desires to share the beauty of God’s Word so, with this in mind, I rushed in like a herd of turtles.

 “I’ll share my wisdom on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays,” I thought. I quickly learned I didn't have that much wisdom. I barely drew a breath before it was time to write another post. Undeterred, I went back to the experts.

1. “Blog at least three times a week,” they said. Check.
2. “You must have eye-catching pictures and quality content.” Check. (A bit prideful, huh?)
3. “Give it time to build a following.” Check. I’d been posting for six months. I told everyone I knew—and lots of people I didn't—about my blog, but nothing happened. Was anyone even reading it?

Plan B: Cut back to Tuesdays and Fridays. Surely I could do that. But I struggled to come up with two ideas a week. I lost the motivation to write. My confidence tumbled.

Plan C: Throw in the towel. Maybe I couldn't do it. Maybe I couldn't write at all.

So there I sat – a failure.

Then, a quiet voice spoke through my confusion, “You forgot Me again.”

I was floundering because I’d forgotten God! Now I see where I went wrong.

• Mistake #1 I didn't wait for God. I didn't pray about His priorities. I tore off and left Him behind.
• Mistake #2 I put my faith in the experts. I looked to them for knowledge but I didn't seek God’s wisdom. I looked to them for guidance but I didn't seek His will.
• Mistake # 3 I wrote to please my audience, not to please Him. “Identify your audience and write what resonates with them; they’ll become loyal followers.” A popularity contest—not a desire to obey God.

Were these experts wrong? No. They all said, “Before you do anything, spend time with God.” That soared right over my head. 

A recipe for failure.

So, for the past few weeks, I sat still and listened to God.

• Social media is important, but not if robs from my time with Him.
• Writing’s key, but not if I neglect what He’s called me to write.
• Goals are great, but not if they don't match His.

His Timing is everything!

Why do we sprint off and assume we’re on God’s path?

Why do we turn to others for guidance instead of to Him and to His Word?

Why do we make decisions to impress those around us rather than to please Him?

I do that. A lot. In my writing, my finances, my decision making. Over and over, God sits me down to teach me the same lesson.

God’s plans are much better than any we can make ourselves. His wisdom totally surpasses ours. He has chosen us as His children—how can we not desire to please Him?

Praise God He’s patient and He’s willing to restore us to His path every time we stray.

How are things going for you? Find a quiet moment and ask Him to guide your steps. Wait for His timing.

Take it from me: Things will go better when you do.   

Photo credit #1

Photo credit #2
Photo credit #3

On the QT: The 5 W's - Why?

 

Why should we carve out time in our busy days to spend with God?

 

Why should we give up a few minutes of precious sleep?

 

Why should we give up the few minutes we can grasp in a day for this instead of settling down with a good book?

 

The first W in this series was "Who?" Check it out here.   

 

Now we ask "Why?"

 

Oh, there are the obvious reasons: 

• Build a stronger relationship with God.
• Get to know His Word.
• Be able to tell everyone how faithful you are to spend time with God every day. 

Oh, you can deny that last one, but I know better! I’ve done it myself.

 

But there are lots of other reasons that draw us to God.

 

You don’t have to read 25 verses of Scripture.

 

Quiet time with God is just that: Quiet time with God

  

Perhaps you need a bit of peace: 

• Sit with Him in silence before the kids get up and peace evaporates in the bedlam. 
• Let Him calm your mind before the “I have to…” list overwhelms you. 
• Take a minute to revel in your blessings and say, “Thank You!”
• Ask for His patience when you know it’s going to be a rough day. 

 

Maybe you have a desperate need to feel His Presence:

• Be wrapped in His love when you feel most unlovable.
• Close your eyes and feel a sense of hope only He can give you.
• Soak in His grace when you need forgiveness.
• Rest in His healing when your heart is broken.

 

And then there are times when God’s Word is exactly what we need.

 

Within its pages we find:

• Wisdom to answer our doubts.
• Words to comfort a hurting friend.
• Guidance to make a difficult decision
• Truths to soothe our fears and heal our hurts.

 

The “Why” of time with God doesn’t have one answer.

• He sits with us when we need the quiet.
• He laughs with us when we are happy.
• He speaks to us through His Word.
• God is there to meet all the ‘whys’ in our lives.

 

Why is your time with God precious?

Remember, comment to this post and you might win a copy of my Bible study, Storms of Life

 

 Photo credit: Denise B. Scott

Need to Escape?

Why? When? Now what?

The last post in this series: Where do you go to escape?

Not many of us walk outside to be surrounded by stunning scenery. I don’t have a backyard full of beautiful blooms, unless a couple struggling rosebushes and a bunch of thriving weeds counts.

But there needs to be some place we go, or something we do to allow our minds to focus on God. A habit, if you will, that helps us to escape the distractions and to be with Him.

One of my good friends hid in the bathroom to escape the kids for so long, that she still goes in there.  

Another friend keeps a folding chair in the closet.

I don’t get a thrill out of sitting in the bathroom and I’m a little too claustrophobic for a closet.

I sit in my bentwood rocker and watch the birds at the feeders outside the window. I don’t usually sit there during the day so it’s become the place I meet God.

 

It doesn’t have to be a place. When you hold a hot cup of tea and close your eyes, do you feel the distractions of the day begin to fade away? Or it can be a brief devotional that brings your thoughts to God.

 

The process doesn’t matter, it’s the time with God that matters. Time to tell Him your problems, even yell and scream if you need to. Time to listen to Him tell you He loves you. Time to ask for guidance and to learn from Him.

He is waiting for you, draw aside with Him.

Is there a place you go consistently that’s your quiet place?

Is there something you do that brings your thoughts to Him?