Challenged

So, I'd like this post to be an outlet for me to be completely honest.  I have been seriously slipping in my devotional life the past few months (yes, months, I'm sad to say!) I know, all of my loving Christian friends out there will come back with the re-assuring, "it's easy to do!" but the fact of the matter is, no matter what light you paint it in . . . I've been wrong.

The Bible says that the world will know that we are Christ's followers by our love; it also mentions us bearing Christ's fruit.  Let me just say, that the past few weeks or so, I have not been holding up my end of that bargain.  I've been easily irritable, frustrated, lacking in patience, and just tired in general.  It took me to get to this point to realize that of course I'm feeling this way, when I've allowed my compass to shift.

At work, things have been super challenging.  I have been disappointed by the behaviors that I see on a daily basis and it's disheartening; I can't help but think that my own attitudes are simply not helping.  So what does one do when things get to this point? Aside from ask for forgiveness and commit to bringing back the focus of Christ on a daily basis.

It's summer here and summer on Long Island means hot, humid, and often just muggy.  In summer time, it's so easy for me to remember to drink lots of water because, well, it's hot! It's in the cooler months of winter that I find myself slipping because, well, it's cold and water just doesn't seem like such a necessity - after all, cold doesn't make me sweat.  In the same way, I have found that when things are relaxed and going well around me, it is easy for me to forget to drink the water of Life.  It's only when things get hectic and seemingly out of control that I am reminded of what an idiot I am to allow this pattern to develop.

So I encourage you my friends, learn from my mistakes! Don't allow that one morning that you decide to delay your devotions  because you're already running late to happen.  It's that one morning that starts a trend, it makes a statement, that it's ok to put it aside because hey, we have human needs that need to be met RIGHT NOW.  Right? Wrong.  Please take a note from the scribbled out, crumpled up, taped-back-together page of my life that is right now and see what God has for you in those running-late mornings - I bet it's amazing and totally worth the time.  You would also be wise to set your alarm clocks for earlier (I am still learning this lesson myself.)

Untill then, drink up!