Saturday, October 22, 2011

Weekend Worship—Be Still

Be still, and know that I am God;
Ps 46:10(NKJV)

Some days I’m so busy with my writing and editing schedule I feel bad about taking time for lunch. Recently I’d even begun waking up in the morning with a stress headache. These headaches caused me to re-evaluate my priorities and I realized that one thing I’d let slide were my regular quiet times in the morning.

In recent years my routine has evolved into a set time every morning spent reading my Bible and praying. Now before you think I’m a morning person or especially dedicated, let me set the record straight—I’m not one of those who can wake up at 5am to do this. I’m a late night person, so my mornings start slow—usually around 8am.

But lately I’ve started the day so far behind I’d begun to skimp on my time with God. It sounds awful to admit, but it’s true. And it seemed the farther behind I got the less time I spent—and the less time I spent with God, the farther behind I got. It looks obvious when I write it out, but it took me a while to see the connection. You may wonder how I finally caught on, and I have to confess it wasn’t anything I did. It was Emily Dickenson—my cat.

You see, Emily has an unusual routine. Every afternoon, if I let her, she spends at least thirty minutes in my lap hanging out. I can be sitting in front of the TV, knitting or in front of the computer, but if I am sitting down, up she hops. She stretches out, cradled in my arms and spends time resting. She is completely at ease, sometimes in a position where, if I didn’t support her, she’d fall to the ground. She is completely unconcerned about any danger, knowing that I love her and will hold her safe. As God’s children we need that same time every day with God. It is necessary to take the time to rest, safe in His arms, away from the trials of the day. He is always there, waiting for us to come, offering comfort and love.  

My challenge to all of us is this: God is never too busy to spend time with us. Can we make time in our schedule for Him?

5 comments:

  1. Well spoken, Edie. Yes, we must make time with Him a priority each day. And we all need that reminder.
    Hugs and blessings!

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  2. I'm guilty of this more times that I care to admit. Love this quote by John Bunyan: He who runs from God in the morning will scarcely find him the rest of the day.

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  3. A welcomed reminder to keep the main thing a priority. Thanks Edie.

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  4. I needed to read this. I'm not a morning person either and have really skimped on my quiet time.

    Emily is beautiful. Thanks to her and to you for sharing these much needed words.

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