What a crazy summer it has been. So many things are still not finished in time for the new school year that happens to start tomorrow morning for us. Losing files on the computer, losing books, and changes in plans that are outside our control, have all contributed to a stressful start. Yikes! Where did the summer go?
"Mom, where is my schedule?" my son just asked me.
Oh, no! The schedules! I forgot to make them.
What happened to my day? Oh, that's right, I had to sort mountains of laundry. Thankfully, my daughter Shine asked if she could make dinner with Aisha. Could she make dinner? Yes, please!
Take a Deep Breath
Often, I find myself needing to take a deep breath, analyze my situation and regroup. I start by taking a deep breath so that I can relax.
God, are you there? Are you listening? Do you remember me? I have made a mess of things. Thought I could do more than I can so I didn't finish it all and in the stress of meeting deadlines, I forgot to do the more important things. Will you please forgive me? Now, I have a mess on my hands. Tomorrow, I have to homeschool...our first day. I had wanted it to be perfect. It will be a disaster. Well, I guess it doesn't have to be a disaster. You are bigger than this situation.
When I remember that I belong to Jesus Christ -- my life, my plans, and my failures are in His hands -- the stress leaves me. He still does miracles. But whether He does a miracle or not, He will always be with me.
Analyze & Regroup
Now, that I have calmed down and started talking to Jesus about the whole situation, I can step back and analyze my situation. I prefer to analyze my situation with the Lord, rather than do it myself.
Lord, thank you that you are here with me. Can you help me right now to analyze this mess? I have to figure out what to do. Show me what my priorities should be. I am just going to read a little bit of your Word and sit in your Presence and wait.
I open my Bible and read.
"O, afflicted city, lashed by storms and not comforted, I will build you with stones of turquoise, your foundations with sapphires. I will make your battlements of rubies, your gates of sparkling jewels, and all your walls of precious stones. All your sons will be taught by the LORD, and great will be your children's peace," (Isaiah 54:11-13 NIV).
Right away, I have a sense of peace and comfort. I know that God will build me up through this whole situation. But, my favorite part of this passage is that my children will be taught by the Lord and there will be peace in their hearts. I beginning to sense that my priority for this week is not so much to get everything done, but to make sure that God is teaching my children and that there is peace in my home.
Lord, I want you to teach my children and to teach me too. I am sensing that my priority needs to be to focus on homeschooling this week and to pray and read the Bible each day. Please help me to not think about all those things that are still undone. I don't want to neglect homeschooling to get things done FOR my homeschooling year. I need You to help me from being distracted by my "to do" pile. Father, please hold my hand and help me. I lift up all this stuff on my plate and ask for you to intervene and help me get it all done. Provide extra time this week and make me effective in my hard work. Thank You that You are with me! I love you!
Now, I have brought you into my time of stress and pressing in to the Lord. I hope that if you are needing God's grace and help right now, you will press into Him too.
What a crazy summer it has been. So many things are still not finished in time for the new school year that happens to start tomorrow morning for us. Losing files on the computer, losing books, and changes in plans that are outside our control, have all contributed to a stressful start. Yikes! Where did the summer go?
"Mom, where is my schedule?" my son just asked me.
Oh, no! The schedules! I forgot to make them.
What happened to my day? Oh, that's right, I had to sort mountains of laundry. Thankfully, my daughter Shine asked if she could make dinner with Aisha. Could she make dinner? Yes, please!
Take a Deep Breath
God, are you there? Are you listening? Do you remember me? I have made a mess of things. Thought I could do more than I can so I didn't finish it all and in the stress of meeting deadlines, I forgot to do the more important things. Will you please forgive me? Now, I have a mess on my hands. Tomorrow, I have to homeschool...our first day. I had wanted it to be perfect. It will be a disaster. Well, I guess it doesn't have to be a disaster. You are bigger than this situation.
When I remember that I belong to Jesus Christ -- my life, my plans, and my failures are in His hands -- the stress leaves me. He still does miracles. But whether He does a miracle or not, He will always be with me.Analyze & Regroup
Now, that I have calmed down and started talking to Jesus about the whole situation, I can step back and analyze my situation. I prefer to analyze my situation with the Lord, rather than do it myself.
Lord, thank you that you are here with me. Can you help me right now to analyze this mess? I have to figure out what to do. Show me what my priorities should be. I am just going to read a little bit of your Word and sit in your Presence and wait.
I open my Bible and read.
"O, afflicted city, lashed by storms and not comforted, I will build you with stones of turquoise, your foundations with sapphires. I will make your battlements of rubies, your gates of sparkling jewels, and all your walls of precious stones. All your sons will be taught by the LORD, and great will be your children's peace," (Isaiah 54:11-13 NIV).
Lord, I want you to teach my children and to teach me too. I am sensing that my priority needs to be to focus on homeschooling this week and to pray and read the Bible each day. Please help me to not think about all those things that are still undone. I don't want to neglect homeschooling to get things done FOR my homeschooling year. I need You to help me from being distracted by my "to do" pile. Father, please hold my hand and help me. I lift up all this stuff on my plate and ask for you to intervene and help me get it all done. Provide extra time this week and make me effective in my hard work. Thank You that You are with me! I love you!
Now, I have brought you into my time of stress and pressing in to the Lord. I hope that if you are needing God's grace and help right now, you will press into Him too.