We have all been there-
Maybe we were at our favorite restaurant and we allowed ourselves to over-indulge, filling our mouths with scrumptious food and luscious desserts only to find ourselves hours later complaining with a stomach ache.
Maybe we were busy enjoying the warmth of the summer sun and time with family and friends forgetting to take time to freshen up our sunscreen only to awaken the next day with skin reddened by a sunburn too painful to touch.
Whatever the circumstances, we, as humans, allow ourselves to get excited about something and plunge in, not only head first but with our entire being.
I have to confess that I may have been guilty of this with my Bible journaling…..
At the beginning of the year I made a decision to spend more time in God’s word- more time reading it, studying it, and journaling about my personal growth. I LOVED it! My time each morning with God was my sanctuary in this world of hustle and bustle. Then, last week, it caught up with me. I crashed!
I found myself needing to get so many other things done: housework, meetings, a crochet project with a deadline, personal obligations. I HAD to take a break from my Bible time.
I felt guilty- I felt like I was turning my back on my promise to God. I was getting other things done, but I was NOT happy about it.
Then this week, God sent me a message- just as he always does- showing me that he was watching and he understood….
I had eased myself back into my Bible time, not delving into an actual long-term devotional study but using Proverbs 31’s daily devotionals to guide my Bible reading and journaling. Monday’s verse started with the phrase, “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him”. Tuesday’s verse was from John 15:16 pointing out that God chose and appointed me for a purpose that would be fruitful for the Lord. Today’s devotional led me to Hebrews chapter 4 and when I opened my study Bible the heading said, “The Promised Rest”.
It took 3 days, but I have finally realized that while I was beating up myself for not spending my usual large blocks of time in Bible reading last week, God was not. He knew my heart. He understood that I had personal obligations and duties that I needed to fulfill. He knew that the project I was working on could be one that touches the heart of someone else and that it TOO is God using me!
While God LOVES my Bible reading, journaling efforts, and blogging he also knows that there are things I HAVE to get done and I should not feel guilty about those. I just need to find the right balance.
It is no different than going to a restaurant and learning to have smaller portions and take some home for later or taking some time to sit in a shady area with a friend rather than spending time in the full mid-day sun. If I want to TRULY grow from my Bible study, I have to make time in my daily routine to DO the routine of life also! In those times I can still THINK on my Bible reading- truly digesting what the word of God said to me that morning. As I do dishes or vacuum the floor I can still make time to utter prayers for those who need them or I can take the time to praise the Lord for the roof over my head and the floor beneath my feet. I need to do more INTEGRATION of my Bible study into my life rather than ISOLATION. I can still have that GOOD thing- I just need to manage it a bit- finding the right balance between my heart and my head.
Lord, thank you for your word. Thank you for the guidance that it provides. Thank you for my desire to read, study, and grow in my faith through Bible journaling. Help me to focus more on my GROWTH and less on the actual TIME. Help me to continue to use my talents as a service for you while still allowing myself to get my daily tasks completed. Guide me to the right opportunities that will cultivate my faith journey and use me as you would see fit. Help me to find the right balance between what my heart wants and what my head says I need to do!
Renewal and Refuge 