When my girls were younger, my husband and I had to divide duties because three girls…all the things, the activities, the friends, the stuff… Because I was also going to ‘school,’ I usually took the girls to school each morning. At some point while we still had all four of us in the car each day, I suggested we implement a daily prayer on our way to school. There were so many things I loved and truly miss about this time.
Many of you know how hectic it is getting out of the house in the mornings.
Got up late.
Can’t find anything to grab for breakfast.
Uniform not washed.
Need fifteen dollars for a t-shirt.
Sign the paper.
Where are my shoes?
Somebody smarts off…
But as we would pull out of the driveway, we would try to let all that go and turn to Jesus.
At times the mean morning mood was still there, but most times real prayers were being shared.
We asked for things, and we also prayed for friends and family.
Sometimes it was routine, but sometimes we went all in.
Such a sweet time to hear the things on my girls’ hearts. I would usually wrap up so we could start our day in His grace and His presence.
That was my intention anyway.
However, I was also driving in morning traffic while I was praying.
So, some days it wasn’t all pretty and nice and calm.
Satan would use the people who do not follow drop-off procedures or traffic rules to sabotage that time that I was trying to stay centered in His presence. The distraction would cause me to say things in the middle of my prayer that I was not planning on sharing with Jesus. I would try to get back on track, but many times I would lose my focus and struggle to get back to the peaceful moment we all needed.
Unfortunately, the enemy doesn’t just attack in the mornings when we start our day. He is always at work trying to distract us, trying to convince us to buy into his lies, trying to do his best to keep us from following Jesus. And, many times we let him do it, just like those mornings I allowed it. He doesn’t show up like a snake or a sinister being with horns, sometimes he will speak his untruth in ways that sound good to us. And, if we are not centered in God’s truth, we start wavering and falling for what the enemy wants us to believe.
When we start looking to the things, the words, the people of this world to form our beliefs and shape our views, the enemy can do his best work. He will not only cause chaos and confusion, but he will initiate hatred and conflict among us. We start becoming more self-centered, depending on ourselves and what we want, what we think we deserve. Before we know it, our hearts are hardened and we struggle to know God’s love and His truth. We have trouble living in His peace, His grace, and His goodness.
So friends, as the world seems to get crazier by the day, let me encourage you to guard your hearts, to resist the enemy’s distractions, and to stay in God’s word to direct your path. Because He is God, not us, and He is sovereign. He is all-knowing, all-loving, and so, so good. He calls us to follow Him, to obey Him, to trust Him in all we do. So let’s do that! And, let’s try our best to live in His presence and then watch Him work His goodness in our lives, even in the crazy.
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:8 (NIV)
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7 (NIV)
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:8 (NIV)