Intentions

I generally set goals for each day.

Sometimes I am overly ambitious and don’t get to everything. Sometimes there is an emergency or at least something that gets inserted that is urgent and it takes a chunk of time to work through leaving the rest of my list unchecked.

There is tomorrow, after all.

At least I assume there will be.

Now that the days, months, and years are flying by, I need to make sure my bigger goals are being tended to. I have generally been working on them all along, but who really knows how much time there is left to accomplish them.

Of course, God knows.

But on this matter, I am in the dark. I need to keep plugging away. And making sure that He is leading the way. Often, when something is heavy on my heart, that is God nudging — and sometimes pressing — me to make a move.

Setting goals or intentions is only part of the challenge. Then there is the the actions that make them happen. And then the re-evaluation mid-stream.

Is this really the direction I want to go?

Sometimes we set off on a path with every intention of doing that thing and over time it becomes apparent that it isn’t going to happen, no matter how hard we try.

Our effort is not the only factor at play.

Sometimes it is nice to start the day with a blank page. Maybe there are a few anchor tasks here and there but, overall, the day is open to where you are lead. In this case, of course, you want to look to who you want to lead the day. What are those things pressing on you? What adjustments do you need to make on your expectations of yourself and others.

What is God doing in your day, today?

Road Conditions

fogw — This was a great road, except for the fog.

Anytime I travel somewhere, I notice whether the roads are new, renewed, or in need of repairing.

If I am in a vehicle that has bad shocks and I am on a bad road, well, it can be an unpleasant experience. But set me on a well-maintained or new road with a well-maintained car and the trip might be pretty smooth. Of course, weather plays a role. On our recent trip we traveled through fog, rain, sleet, snow, and icy conditions. We also watched cars swerve, travel too fast or too slow, and many drivers just not paying attention. I am often doing more than simply driving when I am in the car; sometimes I am snacking or singing or even just thinking. When I think about it, there are so many factors that play into a safe and enjoyable road trip. Some of those factors have little to do with me while others are definitely in my control.

Do I do regular maintenance on my vehicle?
Do I know where I am headed?
Do I have my travel plans mapped out?
Am I prepared for weather challenges?
Have I factored in other delays?
Do I have resources for an emergency?
Do I have enough fuel (for both me and the vehicle) for the trip?
Am I rested?

I can feel I am as prepared as I can be but there are always outside factors that can make an impact. Put a well-maintained vehicle on a terrible road and in bad weather conditions and it is still going to be an unpleasant trip.

But if I can remain calm and steady, it definitely helps.

Life seems like that too.

The outside conditions can change – and do – frequently. What I have control of is my response and an accurate sense of my own “condition”.

Am I rooted in God’s Word?
Am I grounded in God’s spiritual truths?
Am I aware of His love for me (and others)?
Have I watched Him give me His grace and His perspective on difficult things I have experienced previously?
Do I adjust my course when I see myself headed down a dangerous path filled with temptations to sin?

As I was reading Ephesians 3 today, this was one of the verses stood out for me:

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Ephesians 3:16-17a

When God’s Spirit is strengthening my inner being, I can deal with quite a bit of junk. How I respond to circumstances can be evidence for His work on my inner being. I can definitely tell where I am rooted by the way I respond to circumstances.

Have you had your own response to a situation that was evidence of God’s work on your inner being?

When I have a response that defies human understanding, I know it is God working on my heart because apart from him, I cannot do it!

On the Road,

Liz

Emergency Sirens

I probably became more aware of this area of prayer during the time my husband Don was on a volunteer fire dept/rescue squad when we lived in Nebraska. When the pager went off or the fire siren was activated, I would try to pray for the entire situation. It is amazing how many people you can pray for when you hear a fire, police, or ambulance siren wailing down the street. You know someone is in trouble so you can pray for the person/family in the middle of the need as well as the safety and wisdom of the responders, any witnesses, emergency personnel at the hospital, etc. You might just settle on one angle and cover that group in prayer.

Using emergency sirens as a trigger has been helpful to me. Now that I live in a bigger city, I find that I have the occasion to use that cue more frequently.

Emergency Siren= Someone is in trouble= Pray

I am always amazed how God uses daily things to get my attention. Lord, increase my awareness!