Right before school started, I heard one mother say, "I always said I would never be one of those mothers who talked about how glad she was that school was starting back, but I'm really close!
We can hardly wait for summer fun,
For kids to swim and play and run.
But as the weather begins to cool
Mothers are ever so grateful for school!
A big part of summer fun is the feeling of freedom, a release from the structure of the school year. And yet a big part of relief when school reopens in the fall is the return of that very structure.
It is the habits that revolve around the structure in our lives which form our lifestyle. It is easy to acquire bad habits when our self-discipline slacks up.
Scripture exhorts us to practice all kinds of good habits. For example, Jesus modeled a very important habit for us. He often drew apart to spend time in prayer. Psalm 1 tells us to be in the habit of delighting in the law of the Lord and meditating on it day and night.
Heb. 10:25a urges us, "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another. The book of Proverbs reminds us over and over to get in the habit of seeking godly wisdom. Many verses tell us to be in the habit of obeying what God tells us to do in the Bible. We should continually be in the habit of passing along the spiritual truths which we have been taught. In II Timothy 2:2 Paul exhorted his young friend in the Lord, "And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others."
It is crucial to our well-being to banish bad habits, change some of our so-so habits, and build good habits, because, as our habits go, so go our lives.
Father, may the words of our mouths, the thoughts of our hearts, and the habits of our lives be pleasing in your sight. Amen.
I'm hobbling along because I have a sore toe.
It aches and it pains everywhere that I go.
You wouldn't think that could possibly be
Because my toe's such a tiny little part of me.
I John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
I really do have a sore toe. Actually, it's just the tip of the middle toe on my left foot. It's a very tiny place, but it certainly is interfering with my happiness and well being. It hurts every time I take a step, and it often throbs even when I'm trying to sleep at night.
Sometimes we commit what we call "little sins." They don't seem very intrusive or significant. Surely they aren't such a big deal. But, somehow they manage to interfere with our happiness and well being, with our relationship with our Heavenly Father. There come nudges of unease, like an unseen person poking us in the ribs. Our pleasure in prayer or God's Word or fellowship with other Christians is not quite as keen.
Sometimes our misdeeds are very obvious and crippling to our lives. We might equate what we call the "big sins" to a golfer whose ball lands in the woods, thuds into a bunker, or splashes into a lake.The "little sins" equate to the golfer who misses the fairway and lands in the edge of the rough. Just as the high grass in the rough impedes the next shot, so "little sins" hinder our spiritual walk and steal from our joy. They cause us to miss the center, the sweet spot, of God's will.
There's really no such thing as a "little sin." Any sin is a matter of disobeying God. Wherever we have breached God's will for us, the sweetness of our walk with Him has a bitter edge. A tender conscience, which compels us to face and confess even the tiniest of infractions, is a great gift. It helps us keep walking right in the center of God's will for our lives.
Father, I pray that each of us will walk right in the center, the sweet spot, of Your perfect will for us. Give each of us a tender conscience and encourage us to confess every time we sin, to keep short accounts with You. Amen.
I went to lunch with a friend so we'd have time to talk,
But that soon came to an end as his cell phone began to squawk.
He talked while we were eating, but he never talked to me.
His cell phone kept on bleating, and he spoke to it, you see.
Now when I want to talk to him I know just what to do.
I won't invite him out to lunch. I'll call his cell phone too!
