I haven’t written on here as much lately. Most of my creative focus is going into the book I’m working on. But I f.e.l.t. this message so much in my heart over the last few weeks that I simply had to share. 🧡
So many things are on my mind in this season of transition for my family and I.
So many fears and inadequacies that I have to take to God, in order to have them transformed into faith.
So many burdens of others that my flesh tries to carry, until I begin to feel myself breaking under the pressure and I have to be reminded by Him that we are called to share in one another’s burdens but we were never asked to carry them. We aren’t even supposed to carry our own. And so it takes me awhile, but eventually I’m reminded to leave those worries for others at the cross too.
I’m reminded to trade them — both of them—
the worries for me and worries for them—
for worship. I’m reminded I don’t have to know how He will make a way, always.
I can rest in His sovereignty and trust in His goodness and walk each day out singing His praises- because I trust that while I don’t “got this” {for me, or for anyone else}, HE has us all. And loving Him and showing love to others, and obeying him day-by-day is enough!
I r.e.l.y. on my quiet times, where I plug into Him, to armor and recharge my soul! 🔌 ⚔️
The thing is, we don’t HAVE to take quiet time. I’ve seen a lot of posts about how we can pray hurried prayers and it’s ok. And it is. I pray prayers in the midst of the chaos too. It’s not that I’m saying those aren’t good. But I’ll be bold here and say what I’ve found for my own self time and time and time again.
Quick prayers and a verse-a day aren’t enough.
Now, hear me out. I promise I’m not getting legalistic about this. I need my heart on this to come across loud and clear:
It’s not that God doesn’t accept those.
He will talk to us any time, any place.
It’s just- WE are missing out when we don’t take the time to soak His love in.
And there’s no way around that- it usually takes time to really feel recharged in His presence.
Over the years there have been a lot of things that have competed for my time with Him. I won’t go into those here, but think of anything good or bad that can distract us. Think on maybe what has distracted you.
Now here is one that may surprise you: Did you know even ministry can distract us from this quality p.e.r.s.o.n.a.l, intimate time with Him?
There’s a place for ministry in the life of believers of course! We are called to “go into all the nations making disciples”, but the underlying assumption there is that we would go FILLED, we would share from full*. And not a one-time fill, but a DAILY filling. He is our DAILY bread! We need to be perpetually filled!
But sometimes we can get our schedules or our brains so full with stuff- even good stuff- even ministry ideas, that we forget to come to Him just for “our time.”
I really relate my relationship with Jesus through the Holy Spirit as a marriage. And just like with a husband and wife, the commitment may remain if there’s no intimacy but it won’t be as joy-filled. How could it be?
How many of us wives would be fully satisfied and recharged if the only intimacy we had with our husbands was a ”peck” on the way out the door each morning? That’s barely enough to even feel the love and connection right?
But if we aren’t careful that’s how our marriages can end up. Quick pecks as we are running here and there and only occasionally crossing paths.
And if we aren’t careful that’s how our relationship with Jesus can end up too. Losing our selves so much in the busyness of life, ministry… trying to gain the world (souls) for Him, and yet feeling as if we are losing our souls…because without that time with Him our souls feel p.a.r.c.h.e.d!
It doesn’t take me long anymore to sense when I’m missing out on this q.u.a.l.i.t.y. time with Him. I swear it’s like my tolerance for being able to go without it is declining more and more.
I can feel it after a day.
After a week of rushing and not sitting in stillness with Him, I’m a MESS.
The week before last I was away at a youth training, and then a retreat with my husband. Both were AMAZING, but I struggled to make quiet time for just God and I in both of them. (In hindsight I see that He is trying to teach me how to have this, even when I don’t have the physical space I’m used to.)
By the time I got home, and as I tried to jump into normal routines again without a pause, I was acting….let’s call it hangry.
You ever heard someone say “You need to get laid”?
Well God spoke to my heart and said it was kind of like that…except for I needed the intimate, affirmation-receiving time with HIM…
“You just need to get PRAYED, Daylene. That’s all it is. Come get filled. ❤️”
Prayer is so many things.
It serves so many purposes.
It’s easy to make it just our list of needs, or others’ needs.
But sometimes we need a reminder that above all, prayer gives us what we REALLY need most-
HIM.
The present of His presence!
When I have quality time with my husband, intimate time, I can’t explain how it calms me. I think scientists say that it actually releases dopamine and oxytocin into my brain, if we want to talk biology. I don’t have to be able to explain it to know that it works.
The same goes for getting “prayed.”
I don’t know how He makes me feel better but He does! Every time!
He trades chaos for calm.
Anxiety for affirmation.
“Just a servant” mindset for JOY as He reminds me that is NOT how He sees me or us.
We are His beloveds.
The honeymoon NEVER has to be over with Jesus! (No matter how many “kids” or jobs (ministry projects) we have!)
Soak that in today!
Sit with Him in it!
Sense just how very loved you are…
not for what you do,
but for who(se) you are! ❤️❤️❤️
Say to Him today,
Thank you Jesus! That
“You are mine…and I am yours.”
—-—-
FromFull.com
From Full 