A couple of weeks ago I participated in an online devotional that consisted of discussing what things we should reintroduce into our lives in preparation for when things go back to “normal”. During this time our busyness has slowed, there’s virtually no place to go, and nothing to do; but what has certainly increased for me is the time I’ve been spending with the Lord. I find myself being grateful for the simple every day, sometimes mundane things He has blessed me with, like my health, a family to shelter-in-place with, a job when many are jobless, food when many are waiting in long lines to feed their families, and for the gift of life when so many have lost theirs.
Somehow these (most important) things weren’t that high on my prayer list before, but now I realize just how much of a gift they are. I also noticed that a lot of what I was doing wasn’t really necessary; and to be honest, some of my busyness was even being used as a way to avoid certain feelings, or to take my mind off of something that may have been worrying or concerning me. If you’re anything like me, nothing beats a full day of stuff to do when you don’t feel like dealing with something.
The stores are closed, so are restaurants and entertainment venues. There are no concerts, women’s events, or church functions to attend; and I now know that I don’t needto go to TJ Max every other day of the week.
Zoom has shown me that going out to eat isn’t the only way to fellowship and shopping on Amazon isn’t a necessity; but most of all I figured out that I don’t always need to be doing something. Being still is actually necessary. So necessary that even the Lord rested.
“And by the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested (ceased) on the seventh day from all His work which He had done”. Genesis 2:2 (AMP)
When I ceased striving and shifted to a posture of stillness, I was able to discern God’s voice at a level I had not experienced before. My mind wasn’t cluttered with to-do lists and things that demanded my attention; everything had been interrupted so that I could now hear from the Lord. Somehow stillness and quiet didn’t seem so bad after all.
“For God alone my soul waits in silence and quietly submits to Him, For my hope is in Him”. Psalms 62:5 (AMP)
So now that I’ve made space (with God’s assistance) in my mind, heart, soul, and spirit for the Lord to come in; what do I reintroduce into my life? Perhaps that’s a question we should all be asking. God, show us what to add back so that we can keep you first. Help us to not be so busy, even if it is with godly activities, that we don’t have time for You. And when we feel like we are missing out, help us to remember that everything we did wasn’t always necessary, but You are.
“For in Him we live and move and exist (that is, in Him we actually have our being), as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His children”. Acts 17:28 (AMP)
Angela Scott
CHM Contributor
