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Today I have five hours without children. Today I enter a new phase of my life. Today begins two days a week to focus on other things besides home schooling. So, today I woke wondering what I was going to do. Not that I don't have a long "to-do" list, but where was I suppose to spend my energy?
Our family has had in the last two weeks several storms hit us. Each of these storms has long rage affect on all of us...one is eternal. I saw them coming. God prepared me to face the storms, but I still feel a little beat up by the effects of them raging. He isn't finished yet and His promises are true, so I look to the future with peace, but my flesh is tired. He has created the storm and He is in the midst of the storm with me.
Then today I stopped to pick up my devotional and read the wrong day, but God knew... He was going to speak. I am sharing it with you since it spoke to me so directly. I pray that it speaks to someone else also. I will do as it suggests. God has spoke on what my plans are for my first free day.....sitting quietly before Him.
Jesus Calling by Sarah Young
Demonstrate your trust in Me by sitting quietly in My Presence. Put aside all that is waiting to be done, and refuse to worry about anything. This scared time together strengthens you and prepares you to face whatever the day will bring. By waiting with Me before you begin the day's activities, you proclaim the reality of My living Presence. This act of faith - waiting before working-is noted in the spirit world, where your demonstration of trust weakens principalities and powers of darkness.
The most effective way to resist evil is to draw near Me. When you need to take action, I will guide you clearly through My Spirit and My Word. The world is so complex and overstimulating that you can easily lose your sens of direction. Doing countless unnecessary activities will dissipate your energy. When you spend time with Me, I restore your sense of direction. As you look to Me for guidance, I enable you to do less but accomplish more.
Luke 12:22-28, Eph. 6:12, Prov. 16:3
May you have a blessed week and God directs your path.
29 Joining in with more words:
Oh Janette! This is perfect! The Lord has been speaking to me about getting His direction for EVERYTHING. I tend to just fly off half cocked. This is such good advice.
PS Enjoy this new phase of your life! God has big plans for you.:)
Good morning Janette...first let me say I have NO DOUBT this devotional was for me this morning...it is honestly just where I am at as well. Soo many choices and decisions and things need to be done and where do I start? At His feet of course... : )
I know you will quickly fill your available time with useful worthwhile activities. I am soo happy for you that you will have this too. But how wonderful to KNOW before you ever begin what is truely MOST important. Sitting quietly in His presence. Don't know all that is going on in your life of course, but praying all is well.
Love to you, Debbie
Jesus Calling and my Bible sit side by side every morning. I will read today's as often as I need to, which seems to be a LOT these days. What quieting words of assurance. Boy, it's hard for me to sit still, but here I am this morning, just like you.
Whatever these days hold for you, that quietness before Him is everything. I want to be quiet before Him BEFORE I have to come to a screeching halt and THEN have to be quiet. I think we are learning.
Hugs & praying for you right now. You will be so excited when you pick Benjamin up and hear him chatter about his morning.
Janette! Thank you for posting this reminder. I want to take this into my busy school year and truly be a victor in this BEFORE the school day starts this year. I regret that in the past I have waited til I'm home with tea in hand after a school day - to quiet myself in my devotions. Really need to START the day with Him is this calming manner. Earlier rising - self discipline - good fruits from such a commitment.
Bless you as you weather your storms . . .
Joy to you!
Miss Kathy
Amazing words. And so true. We know this yet we have to be reminded... again and again! Oh we are an obstinate people. But we have faith and hope in the One who is Faithful and True. So we do something right. ;)
I'm praying with you, that His presence is palpable and His words are clear. And that you find joy in this first day of this new season of your life. "With Jesus in the boat I can smile in the storm..."
Blessings, Debbie
Perfect, Janette. Perfect. Thank you so much for sitting quietly and finding this message... It has touched many of us. Blessings ~ tanna
I think your devotional "mistake" was meant for all of us. These were great, timely words for me today. Yesterday in church the message was about spiritual warfare and the armor of God from Ephesians. I was struck by the fact that we do battle against spiritual beings - and that in some way our faith is effective. So, this devotion was inspiring along those lines - "your demonstration of trust weakens principalities and powers of darkness."
I'm taking that one to heart today as I strive on in my battle...
Thanks, Janette - hope that God spoke to you today in your *new quiet time*.
GOD BLESS!
Oh, Janette! I did the EXACT same thing this morning and read the EXACT SAME DEVOTIONAL by mistake! Oh, how I need the words today. God is good. Blessings to you ... saying a special prayer for you in the storms you are weathering right now.
It was absolutely no mistake that
you read and shared this devotional.
I can also agree that it was meant
for me as well. The Lord may want
you to spend many of your free days
just sitting quietly in His wonderful
Presence for awhile. It may be His
will for this season of your life and
we all know there is no safer place
to be than in His perfect will.
Hugs,
Sandy
This was perfect for me as well. I have the list but had to sit quietly before God. I go in a couple hours to get my biopsy results and had to pray to be ready to face the storm should one arise. Sometimes sitting in the wait is what is needed. Maybe that is why those rooms are often called waiting rooms.
I am sorry you are being hit with storms once again. I pray today that He will walk out to you and give you the strength to step out of the boat and walk to him. May this time be a time of his filling you with mercy, peace, comfort, understanding and power in Him.
This would be the ideal way to begin every day...if we could keep ourselves from jumping out of bed in the morning and getting going! Loved it!
This very afternoon, I was watching a show that featured a Quaker meeting and showed the congregation sitting quietly in the presence of God. I thought the idea of that kind of peace to be inspirational.
I SO believe this. (As I commented on Elaine's post earlier today, this is why I try to keep large "margins" in my life.)
I know you will enjoy these two days and that as you quiet yourself in His presence you will receive direction re. your use of the hours.
Thanks for posting this, Jannette. It is priceless.
I loved what you read on the wrong day. I love when God does that kind of thing. I am so sorry that the Lord has something for you. I will pray that God will surround and keep you. I know that He is with you in the midst of your storm just like that picture.
Blessings my friend.
This would have definatley stopped me in my tracks. No question on what he wanted you to do.
When you are in the midst of the storm there is no safer place to be than at his feet. Use this time to let him pour into you and refresh you.
Blessings
Praying your whole day was as inspiring as your first hours. Blessings.
Don't you love it when that happens. I can't tell you how many times I've read the wrong devotion on the right day. His voice is so clear. His message easy to understand during those circumstances. I am so glad He is working through your challenges. And thank you for sharing. The message comforted and encouraged me as well.
"I look to the future with peace, but my flesh is tired." You took the words right out of my mouth.
I like your devotional, even if it is a day late. "As you look to Me for guidance, I enable you to do less but accomplish more." I needed this. Have been working all day and don't feel like I've made much progress. :-(
I will start my day with more prayer and see if tomorrow will be better. Blessings, my friend! :-)
I so needed this today my friend. Today was our first real day of HS and it was terrible. Long, drawn out, hard to get back into the swing of things, she didn't want to work all day but because she was not doing her best it took all day and I was so frustrated and worn out by the end of the day when I went to get groceries I cried on the way to the store. Praying tomorrow is better. I don't know what to do if it isn't?! She can't go back to public school at this point, she is too far behind and struggles too much and so we have to make this work but it will take some doing. Thanks for your prayers.
I need to just sit at His feet, I don't sit still and quiet very well, something I am working on.
Praying for your new adventures and the changes that are taking place in your life now.
Love you-hugs
Jill
Janette, I read this post this morning and I envied your time with the Savior. I can't recall the last time I spent more than my morning quiet time with Him. I am ashamed to admit that it has more to do with my choices than actual time available. I pray the day was fulfilling and has quieted your soul. I am on the lookout for a do-over and I am so thankful that our God is the King of do-overs! Patty
Janette, I didn't get a chance to come by yesterday,.... just as you read on the wrong day, I didn't come on the right day,..... but I did!! This word is for me today, I am so thankful for the Holy Spirit that directs are steps, His timing is "Perfect"
I will be praying for you and your family, and these matters. I once again have to remind myself that if His eye is on the sparrow then I know He watches over me.
As always such a blessing and encouraging words from you.
Now I am going back and reread this.
Hugs,
Sue
"This act of faith - waiting before working-is noted in the spirit world, where your demonstration of trust weakens principalities and powers of darkness."
I loved that.
This sitting and waiting is something that I have been FORCED to do lately. Funny, but what you wrote is so right. It actually makes me stronger for the day. I love the part about it weakening the powers of the darkness.
This is why I love to blog...words of wisdom at the right time.
So many of us face the stroms and need that "nudge" to remember, just who is in charge.
Bless you and your family.
Hi Janette - good post - love your devotional for the day. God knows what we need to hear, doesn't He!
I pray you find peace in the storms of your life and that God may send His calm...
He's got great plans for your time without the kiddos! Keep your eyes open!
Janette, I hope the storms have completely subsided and calm has returned....Lovely devotional thoughts you have shared, thank you.
May your find unexpected sonshine alone your way each day.
I love to read "Jesus Calling" and I've done the same thing. I think the Lord must have directed you to that particular devotion for this day. May you enjoy a little peace and quiet for your two days a week.
Blessings and love,
Debbie
I thought I commented on this one, sorry. You are so right and I loved the devotional you shared. It does fit perfect this week. I need to keep listening for the still voice and hear what He wants me to hear. This post was a blessing! Thank you. (((HUGS)))
Blessings and ((HUGS))
In Him<><
-Mary
Janette,
Thank you for this fine reminder that sometimes to "do less" means we
sometimes
accomplish more" at least in the realms where it really counts.
Blessings to you - and I hope your storms calm down very soon.
...Marsha
Appreciated these words today and forwarded your post on to a friend who is also going through a "dark" time. I came across "Jesus Calling" earlier this year and it always seems to speak right where I am!
Praying God will continue to shed just enough light for the step you are on. It's the only way to live!
God lead me here again today. I really needed to hear this. Pray for me please for I am feeling discouraged. Thank you my SSiC
-Mary
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