Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Tweaking My Way Into Obedience



Conviction comes with much love and hope. Thank-goodness for that.

It's in the darkness of the night while lying upon my bed with no distractions that God convicts me of, well, sin and of righteousness. Like watching film, He takes me through the day, pointing to where I went right and where I went wrong. 

Again, with much love and ever so much patience.

And lately? He showed me I've not spent enough alone time. Now, I knew that, but I'm good at learning to live with the feeling that "something just ain't quite right."

He and I are working on that, too.

Hence, the tweaking. I'm no longer going all que sera sera because Tom is always home and I cannot have my eight hours alone as I once did. No, when God tells you to do a thing, He makes the way to do it. He is The Way, after all.

So rather than just going with the flow of my present life and watching tv at the drop of a proverbial hat or sitting here at the computer while Tom sits at his five feet away ... and rather than complaining that there are too many meals to make now and too many dishes and clothes to wash, I've hooked into God's ways and made changes.

I cook when He says cook--and oh! He knows the best time to do that. We have dinner now for lunch and Tom has leftovers for dinner while I have something simpler like cereal or toast. And that is so much better.

And I have "office time" more frequently, which means I sit at our hoosier cabinet when God tells me, sit. Oh, how I need hours alone! And God, having made me that way, knows how to get those hours for me. 

And then up and away from my office I go, at peace, throughout the day.

Go to the computer when He directs, He says, not when I'm bored and can't (won't) think of something better. Watch the X-Files when He gives permission, not every time Tom is watching them.

God keeps me out of ruts and inside variety, instead! 

When I follow His lead, I'm amazed that there's plenty of time for everything, the fun stuff and not-so-fun. But when I lead myself? Oh dear, the day turns all fruitless and pathetic. You know, instead of seeing how much I can accomplish I, instead, see how little I can do and still keep up.

Hmm. Maybe this only makes sense to me. Perhaps I'm just thinking aloud. But if my tweaking my way into obedience helps anyone, well, that's all that matters.



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God calls us to follow Him to mission fields like Africa and India, yes. But He also calls us to follow Him around the house, the job, the neighborhood and even the Internet.


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6 comments:

Unknown said...

You are in a good groove girl, just stay there and obey. Good stuff today my friend.
Odie

Brenda@CoffeeTeaBooks said...

When my husband went on disability, I had to learn to find ways to "get alone" even when I was not. :)

Debra said...

Odie--thanks. You're such an encourager.

Brenda--oh, I know. When I sit at our hoosier cabinet I'm not really alone-alone since Tom is only about 12 feet away in the livingroom. But I *feel* I'm alone when I'm there. And I'm also learning to make the most of my time alone in the mornings when the house is silent and the few times when Tom drives to his doctor appointments. It really is amazing how God knows the best way to do everything!

Thanks to both of you... Debra

Blu-I'd-Blonde said...

My experience has been so very similar. When my hubby's job changed from 8-5 and went to sporadic appointments, I lost my quiet times. Yet, it's true--where there's God's will, there's a way.

When pain or meds keep me awake at night, the night-time hours have potential to be a time of real blessing (when I can keep away from Bing games). It's interesting the different temptations we have with the evolution of the internet! Thank you for convicting me of what I can do to walk close to my Savior.

Pat said...

Of course I can relate totally to what you have written, it's just taken me longer to become wiser! I guess it's not the length of the journey but arriving that actually means the most!
Never stop learning..and sharing!

Sara said...

My thoughts exactly! God has been leading me in the lesson of doing each task in His timing and not looking beyond to the next thing;to find pleasure in the clock He sets for me. And certainly I get the need for aloneness! There is a quote from Laura Ingalls Wilder that I am soon going to use in my blog about just this. Peace and love to you my friend.