Delightful Journey

"We presume that whatever is unpleasant is our duty! Is that anything like the spirit of our Lord -- 'I delight to do Your will, O my God . . . ' (Psalm 40:8)" (from My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers, entry for January 29).

What I keep hearing today is that the work of life -- the laundry, etc. -- has to be done, but it's not what I was made for. So while I need to get it done, I don't need to structure my life around it. Instead, I need to schedule it around my life! I am made to be a worshipper. So the very first priority of my day is to spend time with God, and then everything else. Even in caring for my children, my first priority is to teach them to worship God. If these are truly my priorities, then that should be reflected in my everyday schedule.

So today I changed around my schedule to make room for going to RHOP more often (the Roseville House of Prayer -- an amazing place where you can go almost anytime to pray). I let the girls get up earlier so we could have worship time together while I fed Cedar. We read from Jesus Wants All of Me, which is the kids' version of My Utmost for His Highest. Then we read Matthew 6:33, 34. I told them about how God takes care of us. (I needed to hear that today too, as our financial situation is a bit strained this month.) We prayed together and sang a made-up song about God taking care of us. Then they read books on my bed and we listened to the Bible on CD while I finished feeding Cedar. After that, we got dressed, ate breakfast, I checked my email and put in some laundry, and we went to RHOP. I refused to let myself stress about how everything else will get done. Today we've put the most important things first. God will take care of the rest.

Every day has its own needs, so I have to be led by the Holy Spirit each day. I can't force what worked today to work every day (making a law of my schedule). It's a helpful template, but I have to keep listening to Him. After all, that's the way He wants it. He only gave enough manna to the Israelites for each day. He didn't want the sacrificial system:

"Sacrifice and offering You do not desire, nor have You delight in them; You have given me the capacity to hear and obey. Burnt offerings and sin offerings You do not require" (Ps. 40:6, AMP).

Nor did He want to give Israel a King:

". . . [T]hey have rejected Me, that I should not be King over them" (1 Samuel 8:7).

He wants me to be completely dependent upon Him alone. He wants to write His word on my heart (Proverbs 7:1-3). It is I who demand rules, schedules, and plans to take the place of listening to Him. It allows me to feel more in control. I want to wean myself of having to be in control and let my plans be submitted to His direction every day, even every hour when needed.

"Get into the habit of saying, 'Speak, Lord,' and life will become a romance (1 Samuel 3:9)" (from My Utmost, entry for January 30).

My life is so much more delightful! I love this journey that He has me on. I love feeling like my day is under control -- His control, not mine.