In my previous post I said I found it easier to watch movies than to read my bible. But that doesn’t mean it’s wrong to watch Pride and Prejudice. I mean, Jane Austen. Nothing more needs to be said.
But I had a big problem with being patient with my boys. I owe it to them and to God, who gave them to me to take care off, to do my utmost to take care of that problem.
God knew this. So He took me on a training, so as to be better equiped in this journey of motherhood then I was.
Since my own training appeared to be insufficient. As it turns out, the way you bathe your baby and the age you start giving solids is less important then the whole patience thing.
This training involved quitting my binge-watching series habits, although really, I never admitted I had that problem until after the problem was solved. It involved only reading novels on rare occasions and learning to love my Bible instead, looking for creative ways to fill my head and my heart and my thoughts with Christ.
For me, right now, that looks like Streams in the Desert on my phone or in my book, My Utmost for His Highest, Stepping Heavenward, my bible, written notecards with texts.
I fill my thoughts with words and thoughts and feelings that are about God. Because what’s in your heart will stream out. And it will burst out especially when you are tired and stressed. Me, being tired and stressed often, my heart wasn’t really giving out love. I want my heart to be filled with love so that it comes out when I’m stressed. Not there yet. Someday I will be, with the grace of God.
For me, it’s not reading my Bible for an hour or praying for an hour or listening to a whole cd attentively. I make it a rule to really listen to the words of the first song on the cd or playlist I put on. To read one memory verse card. To read one page. One verse. And if I do that all through the day, I fill myself with God’s words and thoughts.
In the morning, the evening or naptime, I do one longer, heart-to-heart talk and reading with God. But the rest, it’s more like the swallow of water you take while you hard at work.
Also, Mike says I’m doing better. And he never lies. Except for those times he tells me he will come to bed in time and then doesn’t. tut tut! I never do that sort of thing. Because I’m so perfect and all, you know.
I *love* this post, especially the rule you’ve set for yourself to listen and think carefully about one thing at a time. I’m going to try and begin practicing that this week, and I’m deeply gladdened by your reminder that God promises it will make a difference — Amen.
Glad it inspired you 🙂 What I like about blogging is that I keep reminding myself, too 🙂