A New Year's Resolution

It's just a little late to be posting New Year's Resolutions, but if I have one wish for 2008 it is to spend more time in the Word. 2007 was a difficult year, adjusting to a new job and trying to juggle the keeping of the home and care of its inhabitants with a demanding work schedule.

Why do spiritual things take a back seat to the everyday demands on our time? Oh, I didn't miss church meetings, and I prayed every day; but somehow it wasn't the same as spending quality time each day reading God's Word and praying and drawing closer to Him.

The work schedule this year will be more difficult than in 2007. How will I fit in the spiritual feeding which should be the most important thing in my life? Or should I be thinking this way? "Fitting in" the time somehow doesn't seem right. Shouldn't it be "my spiritual life comes FIRST, then I fit other things around it"?

Our spiritual lives have been compared to our daily bread. Most people's lives are centered on earning money to acquire their day-by-day necessities, or perhaps on supporting the person who acquires them. Their lives put JOB first, with other activities "fitting in" around that job. Others may put ENTERTAINMENT first, with jobs and other activities "fitting in" around it.

When Jesus was on the earth, He put His Father's will first. He taught his disciples to do the same, and made that clear to them when He asked them to leave everything behind and to follow Him.

When I look back over 2007, I can see that I put my job first--however reluctantly. I got up in the morning with "just enough time" to get ready for work. Most mornings, this meant getting up quite early and waking my teenage son, having breakfast and preparing for the work day, then a 45-minute drive to school. Oh, yes, I prayed. But the prayer time was usually either when I first woke and as I was getting ready, or later as I was driving to school. At my school, teachers and staff have a half-hour devotion and prayer time once each week. If I remembered to, I might also pray at bedtime. In other words, I was "multi-tasking" with prayer! Can you imagine Jesus doing that?

When I thought about it, I realized that this is not what God wants, or expects from His children.
There may be times when it is necessary to pray when other things are going on around us, or even when we are busy. But even in a busy household, good parents will try to spend quality time with each child. Married couples who love each other seek to spend time together.

My goal for 2008 is to spend real quality time daily--not shared with anything or anyone else-- with the Lord. How will I do it? This requires putting my priorities right and putting Him first, then "fitting in" everything else. Will it be easy? I don't think so.

Perhaps in later posts there will be updates on this Resolution for 2008.

God bless you!