Morning by Morning

I am learning something new.  In a few minutes I will be out on the golf course trying to learn how to hit a little white ball into the air and hopefully not kill anyone in the process!

It’s tough learning something new. It feels foreign and it’s frustrating.

That is what it’s like when we are learning something new in the spiritual sense too. As God teaches us and we learn to walk in His Truth, it is often foreign and frustrating. Sometimes we give up because it’s easier to live by our natural bent and default habits  hoping God will bless us.

He will bless us, but I want more than just blessing, I want the LIFE that HE died for me to have. The abundance, the peace, the joy, and yes all the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

This does not come by making lists and trying with all my might. The things I want come by connection to the Father and His Life flowing in and through every part of me. And, that is often foreign to each of us.

How do you connect to the Father?

For me, it’s been different in the different seasons of my life. Sometimes it’s been structured and other times it has not. But, one thing I have learned in the past few years is that before I do anything else, My Father, My Source of Life, must hear my voice first thing. I have made it a practice to begin my day before setting my feet to the floor. I begin by talking to My Father. Sometimes it’s a brief ” Good Morning Lord, here I am again today. This day is yours and so am I. Use me today as you have planned and fill me with your presence.” Then I jump up get my coffee and get going with the day. Other mornings it’s a bit longer and more detailed. But, whether it’s short or long, the importance of this practice is to speak FIRST to God before any thing else.

It’s amazing how this SETS the frame for the day. Seriously. This one practice sets my focus upward from the first minute of my day. Once my  focus is directed UP, I see my world differently. Does this mean that I don’t get bummed out, disillusioned or distracted? Nope….life goes on, but IF I keep coming back to the Father, He will show me the way and use the bummer moments and circumstances to teach me AGAIN how to live in HIM.

Today’s Verse: Isaiah 50: 4b

“He wakes me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught.”

Ask God to waken you and then respond to the new day by a spiritual practice of immediate connection. This does not take the place of on-goimng communion and connection or study of God’s word, but it’s a  basic practice to Set you in the right direction.

Because in the end we can only choose what we do with US.

• The direction we take each day
• The attitude we take with us wherever we go that day

Yes, new practices are often frustrating and foreign, but they are worth the effort and uncomfortable starts. I encourage you to CHOOSE connection to the Father this week, first thing in your day, as you are still in bed, or as your are jumping to the shower…talk, talk, talk to Him. He loves your voice, your presence, your attention and He will listen.

Let’s try this all week!

with love this Monday,

Debbie