Father, I’m so glad that we have this time together. Help it to continue to change me. I am a different person than I was almost two years ago. I am far from perfect but day by day You patiently work with me and teach me and just by spending time with You I become more and more like You. May it never end. Amen.
Caffeine… Sometimes I can use it to my benefit. Sometimes I don’t even realize that it’s there. But sometimes…sometimes it is surely my enemy!
Last night, Karen met me for supper in the midst of her grocery shopping. We both enjoy iced tea with our meal. Now it doesn’t bother her in the least (she could drink a glass right before bedtime!) but my cutoff time is about 7:00 pm. I took a cup with me back to work. I might take a sip of two on my last break of the evening and sometimes will save the rest for the next day. Now I know better but last night I was so thirsty that I had some around 8:00 but I had most of what was left before heading home around 10:00! Majorly bad idea!
I was able to get to sleep after 11:00 but by 3:30 or so this morning, forget it! I couldn’t sleep. I couldn’t even lie still! Left side, back, ride side – over and over again – I even tried lying on my stomach but to no avail. My tossing and turning had to be bothering Karen. So I headed to the couch, grabbed a blanket and finally fell asleep!
I know better but I tell myself, “It won’t affect me this time. Maybe I can handle it better this time. I’m so thirsty – one little drink won’t hurt. Right?” Wrong! Caffeine is one thing but sin impacts me, as well, except the consequences of sin are not just an interrupted night’s sleep – they can affect me for eternity if I don’t take care of them.
And by taking care of my sin, I mean taking it to You, Lord. That is the only thing I can do. Only You can really take care of them. You eradicate them. Help me to not justify sinning. May I never think it won’t affect me. May I never be lured into thinking that I can handle it better this time or that this one time won’t hurt. For it will…it surely will. It hurts me and it hurts our relationship. My cut off time was the moment I gave my life to You. Enable me to be faithful to You, Lord. Amen.
Mar 2nd, Thurs, 5:01 am
