Include God in my day regardless of the crazy that is going on. Sounds simple enough, right?
Not too long ago, I wrote a post about distractions getting in the way of my time with God. Life is crazy. Most days, I have a schedule all set and feel good about what I have planned for the day. But, there is always something that comes up and throws a wrench in things.
It is through those times, though, that I need to not get overwhelmed by everything coming at me and lose my focus. Instead, I need to learn how to include God in my day.
Include God through Prayer – He is listening…
I’ve been writing about prayer a lot as I have been reading a wonderful book by Elizabeth George – The Heart of a Woman Who Prays. This book is a great reminder that prayer should be my first reaction to any situation that I am presented with.
That is definitely true. And, I think it’s also important to remember that God is with me during my entire day.
I have a great lounging chair in the office. When I am having my morning quiet times, I tend to think He’s sitting there, enjoying a cup of coffee with me during our daily prayer chats.
So, if He’s with me then, why wouldn’t He stay with me throughout the day?
God is faithful and loving. He is ever-present.
Where can I go from your Spirit?
Psalm 139:7-10 niv
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
Or if I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
I wonder if He gets lonely for my voice? If His ears perk up when I speak, only to realize I am talking to my dog?
It hit me that I talk to my dogs all day, and they never have any words of wisdom to offer. Instead, I think I need to change the direction of those words. To God. And seek His wisdom.
Include God through His Word
The next way I thought to include God more in my day was through more interaction with His Word. For some reason, I have really struggled with memorizing bible verses. It’s not that I don’t find them useful and important, I just can’t remember them as well as I’d like to!
So, I have started writing verses on note cards and putting them up around the house and carrying them in my purse. And last week the kids came home to colorful sticky notes on their bathroom mirrors. I had written out a few verses I thought might be helpful for us all to remember.
I figure if I surround myself with reminders by placing them everywhere they can be seen, this could really help! As a result, His words will eventually start trickling into my brain – and hopefully my family’s, too! And, if His words are in there, how much of a positive impact could that have on my day? How much more could I include God in my day by reciting His words to Him and truly learning and remembering the verses?
Moreover, His words provide peace during the craziness, troubles, and endless tasks that just have to be done TODAY!!!
Include God through Actions
Everything I do should glorify God in some way.
The first time I heard this, I felt my left eyebrow raise involuntarily.
How can my doing laundry or cleaning my kitchen glorify God?
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
1 CORINTHIANS 10:31 NIV
Simple answer – I am serving others. Jesus came not to be served, but to serve (Matthew 20:28). Ultimately, when I help my family by providing them with clean clothes and a welcoming home, I am serving them.
Through this service, I can glorify God.
The Proverbs 31 woman immediately comes to mind.
Proverbs 31:27
She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Surely this woman would include God in her daily routine. I can just see her as she goes about her work. Asking Him for help here. Praising Him for His goodness there. She serves her family in order that God may ultimately be served.
Include God by being thankful
colossians 3:17 NIV
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Giving thanks as I do my laundry. That was a concept that was hard to wrap my mind around at first. Then, as I was starting to put clothes in the washing machine, I stopped in my tracks. I realized how blessed I was to have a washer and dryer and didn’t have to launder all the clothes by hand.
I stopped myself as the usual grumbling started when I had to turn shirts, jeans, and even socks, right side out. Instead, I was thankful my kids have plenty of clothes to wear.
Next, I sprayed the stains that always magically appear covering the fronts of shirts. Instead of complaining under my breath about the spills, I was thankful we have plenty of food to eat.
After the laundry was going, I moved on to the kitchen. I started loading the dishwasher. Once more I was thankful for the luxury of a machine to make the chore of doing dishes so much easier.
By deciding to include God in my daily tasks, I can’t help but give Him thanks! When I choose to focus on His blessings instead of the never-ending to-do list, my voice is loud with thanks to Him.
What I learned, and am still learning…
My mindset is changing.
Instead of looking at my list of things needing to get done as chores, I am thankful for all the blessings God has provided. And, I am thankful I am able to serve my family by providing a clean and welcoming place to come home to at the end of the day.
Through inviting God to join me in all the seemingly mundane tasks throughout the day, I am better able to see Him and how He is working in my life.
Your thoughts?
How do you include God in your daily craziness? What verses have you found that help you not get overwhelmed by the sheer number of tasks that get thrown at you every day? I’d love to know your thoughts. I can’t wait to hear from all of you!
