On my down time sometimes I scroll through Pinterest (ha! I’m sure I’m not the only one 🙂 ), and there I find all kinds of inspiring ideas- ideas on cooking, DIY crafts, décor, etc…the list goes on and on. Applying these ideas to my actual daily life?…a hit or miss. To be honest, most of the things I  “pin” I don’t actually do in real life. I’m afraid that’s how I’ve sometimes treated the Word of God as well. When I’m actually able to sit down and open the Word, too often I skim through it, “like” it so to speak, and go on my merry way without another thought of it. So I’ve thought through some things that actually have helped me apply the Word to my very real, day-to-day, ordinary life. I hope it’s an encouragement and help to you as well! So here goes!

1. Taking the time to read without distraction. Whew…this is a hard one as a mom & wife. My wise and godly mother once told me- “It doesn’t have to be first thing in the morning. Find a time that works well for YOU, but make time for the Lord.” This is helpful for me as I’m NOT a morning person at all. Instead, while my babies are napping, this is when I open the Word and read. Find a time that works for you!

2. Have a plan: read through a specific book of the Bible or purchase a book study over a specific topic you’re wanting to grow in. Pray before reading the Word, and start small (example: don’t overwhelm yourself with trying to read 5 chapters at a time. Start with 1 chapter and grow on that.) But, whatever you do, have a plan!

3. This is where the applying part comes into play. Here’s some super practical things I do:

• –  Keep a journal and write down thoughts and verses that stick out to me each time I’m in the Word.
• –  I write a verse of the day or the week on a note cared and hang it on our fridge. It’s ALWAYS there to remind and encourage me throughout the day.
• –  Talk to others about what I’ve read that day. My husband and I are trying to get better about asking each other what we read in the Word that day.

Hope that encourages you in your own personal time with the Lord!

I think I’ve just realized that I often tell God what to do.

Yeah, I know.

It is often cleverly disguised as a request, but I’m afraid that God easily sees through my pretense and knows that in my heart I am demanding.

“Please help my girls not to fight so much.”

“Please help me to get my body back into shape again.”

“Please heal Kristina, or Papa, or Stef, so that Your name will be glorified around the world.” (See how I added a carrot on that last one?)

None of these things are bad. All of these things are good. It is not bad to make requests, to ask God for things. Please don’t misunderstand me. I’m not condemning you for asking, I’m noticing something ugly within myself.

You see, my trouble is not that I ask things of God. My trouble is that I want, I expect, I demand God to act in very specific ways.

I know what the problem is, I know what the solution is, and I want God to follow my plan.

What arrogance!

You would think that I would understand by now. You’d think that I would understand that God can see better than I can and that He really does know what is best.

I have a point of view. You have a point of view. But God has view…In our daily living the actions we choose, from within our own skins, as the best possible under the circumstances, may well turn out to have been the wrong ones. Something we regret at the time as abysmally stupid may well end up being the one thing needed under the circumstances. We are trapped in unknowing. Nothing is certain. ~ Madeleine L’Engle

I came to my realization while reading the story of Lazarus in the book of John.

Lazarus, Mary and Martha are siblings who are close friends of Jesus. If anyone had any right to expect anything from Jesus, it would be this family.

Lazarus is sick. Very sick. Jesus is not in town, so Mary and Martha send Him a message:

Lord, he whom you love is ill.

That was it.

No “Please come quickly”. No “Please heal him before he dies”. None of that.

I am shaken deep down inside myself.

Have I ever simply told God my circumstance, let Him know my situation, and then trusted Him to do what is best without trying to advise Him?

No. Never.

Never!

It took my breath away.

God, forgive me.

Forgive me for my arrogance and pride. Forgive me for not trusting You to know and do what is most beautiful.

Abba, thank You for Your patience with me as I learn how to put myself fully and completely in Your hands. Without trying to direct where Your hands should go.

Art credit: Raising of Lazarus by Carl Heinrich Bloch