I love mornings. Wait. Don’t leave. I love the newness that comes with a morning. The quiet before the world (and my children) awakens with demands and lists. I love drinking a hot cup of coffee while listening to the birds chirp outside my window. But I mainly love sitting still with my God and receiving His mercies.
Yesterday was one of those days. You know. The kind that leaves your edges a little frayed. Or a lot frayed. Nothing tragic happened. Nothing life-shattering. Nothing that really “deserves” to steal my joy or peace. Just dailiness. And my edges were frayed.
But I know why. It’s because as motherhood pressed on, hour by hour, I started to focus more and more on the physical things rather than the hearts around me. I started to zero-in on the messes rather than the creative minds that made them. I started to point out the things they did “wrong” in efforts to control their hearts rather than prayerfully imparting courage with my words, in love, as an overflow of worship. And it drained me.
A focus on this physical world always drains the soul.
But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
Luke 10:41-42
We can’t change people. My personal mantra. We can’t make people love Jesus. We aren’t instructed to “control” the world around us. Our calling is to love — up and out. God and people. And true God-love — especially when people step all over our feet and heart — happens only as an overflow of His Spirit. And the overflow of His Spirit happens as a result of worship.
Love blesses. Love teaches. Love prays. Love guides. Love builds. Love disciplines. But it doesn’t seek to control or manipulate or push people around in efforts to find security. It doesn’t point out faults with a tone that demands a change. Love leads people to the foot of the cross.
So I’m thankful for this morning. Because I have learned that what my God says is true. I’ve learned that His mercies meet me when my eyes open. And because of Jesus, He graciously forgives yesterday’s messy perspective. I’ve learned that He waits with a word of hope and strength to face this day and all it will ask of me. And I’ve learned that as I choose to worship throughout the moments of today, His love will overflow.
Fill me, Lord…
Let’s chat. What does “moment-by-moment worship” look like in your daily life?
Sigh. Love this. My edges were frayed yesterday when we were trying to plant a garden for the first time. Kids were grabbing up tomato plants like wild beasts. We got it done, though! And I wish I had been more patient 🙂
I just love you. And I can totally picture it — dirt flyin’, shovels diggin’. Memories made, friend. And I would bet that they only remember that their mama planted tomato plants with them. 😉
Thank you for this. Love your words and heart.
Thanks Jessica.
Wanting people to change (sigh)….i learned through my daughters heart transplant journey that my faith was not lessened or voided through others lack of faith. I learned to let my joy in my Savior shine through good or not so go news. And I learned to pray more for those who needed to grow in their faith.
Heart transplant. Wow. What a journey you’ve walked. And yes, pray more for those around us. What a lesson. Blessings, sister.