Father, as we sit down together this evening, I would ask for Your wisdom. I am just allowing too much to be placed on my plate. I want to serve to the best of my abilities and there are so many opportunities but I need to establish good priorities. Help me to do so. Amen.
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When I take my high school / middle school students home for the day, my first stop (usually) is for a brother and sister. At the end of their driveway is a nice sized tree and it is in the absolute perfect position to cast a cooling shadow over that portion of the roadway. Each time I stop I think of how blessed I am that it is there.
The end of this summer has been quite warm and my bus sits in the sun at the bus compound. It sits in the sun at the high school waiting for students to board and at the middle school as well. Windows and roof hatches let in cooling drafts but the shadow of that tree…though I am only there for a few seconds – it is refreshing!
How many things in life slip by us without even being noticed? Now if I didn’t stop there, I probably wouldn’t appreciate it as much. So maybe the first lesson I need to learn is to stop…so that I can see the blessing that is right before me!
Also, how many things around us go unnoticed because we are just so focused on the tasks at hand. We all have lists a mile long of things that need to be accomplished. Many are important but…are they so important that we bypass blessings placed before us?
Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God. And the peace of God [that peace which reassures the heart, that peace] which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours]. Philippians 4:6-7 (AMP)
We get ourselves all up in a tizzy so often throughout any given day. So many of us are task-driven. We feel that we are being bad people if we don’t accomplish and produce! But what all are we missing out on? How many blessings has our loving Father placed along our path to encourage and refresh us? And how many of them do we never even comprehend because we are consumed by anxiety and worry?
Lord Jesus, help us to slow down and intentionally seek out Your peace. May we eagerly anticipate Your blessings throughout our journey. Amen.
Sept 23rd, 2019, Mon, 8:40 pm
