Choosing to Spend Time with the Lord

Hey Ladies,

Have you ever noticed how many choices we have to make in a day?! Sometimes they can be easy (pickles or no pickles? Definitely no pickles!) And sometimes they are overwhelming! There is just too much to choose from, especially on things that take our time and require an investment of ourselves.

It is almost summer and I can’t wait! I love it when my boys are off school, we travel a bit more and our schedules are so much more flexible, but one thing I find harder to do is have my routine with the Lord. There is extra noise and people in the house, and a lot more choices of how I am going to spend my time, so I need to be super intentional and have a plan going into summer.

I recently read an article from my sister’s pastor in Indiana, called 3 Reasons It’s Good to Be Near God. Here are Danny Anderson’s three reasons:

• When you are near God, you experience rest of soul. Jesus said in Matthew 28:11-30, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
• When you are near to God, you receive guidance. Again Jesus says in John 10:3-4, “He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.”
• When you are near to God, you receive strength. King David wrote, “The Lord is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.” (Psalm 28:8)

The honest truth is that I need all three of these things! Choices are exhausting. My soul needs rest, I would be totally lost without God’s guidance and I am so weak when left to my own abilities. Not only during the summer months, but all of the time. So what are some things we can do to “draw near”?

I am a pretty practical girl, so here are some of my thoughts. First of all, I must be in the Word daily. If I am learning more and growing more, I become more dependent on God. Therefore He carries the load and I find more rest. Prayer is another huge component for drawing near. If I am in constant communication with my Father, we grow closer. This means listening and waiting on Him most of all! He will provide all kinds of guidance if I am listening to Him! A couple other ways I draw near to my God is worship, journaling, and just talking about what He is teaching me with other believers and mentors.

I hope you all have a wonderful summer and that you find plenty of rest, guidance and strength!!!

Love,
Amie Mascara
Women’s Commission Leader