It doesn't have to be a long
period of time...but devoting some time each day to something you
love, even if it's just 15 minutes, has been shown to have a
beneficial effect on one's health and mental outlook. Who doesn't
have 15 minutes they can squeeze out of the twenty-four hours in a
day to spend on something fun?
I know, I know...at times my
life seems filled to the overflow with an abundance of little
15-minute squeezed-out time segments of things I want or need to do ,
so much so that I feel like I never get anything really
accomplished. I will always have more items on my to-do list than
time to accomplish them all. But taking a short knitting break at
least once a day motivates me to keep making the effort!
There are still some days
when I just can't seem to fit that fifteen minutes to knit in
anywhere, and to keep myself from becoming frustrated and angry, I
hold those minutes in reserve for my next day off, and I catch up
then. Knowing that I will have that joy sometime soon eases the
frustration as well as gives me an extra something to look forward
to.
The one non-negotiable time
segment in my day, holding precedence even over the hours I have to
spend at work, is what I call my Devotional Hour of Power. I simply
have to have sixty minutes (four time-segments, lol!) of
solitary time to drink coffee, think good thoughts and talk to the
Lord. And it's important to me to do it first thing each day. Unlike
the minutes devoted to knitting that I can hold in reserve, my day is
simply messed up if I don't start it out right, and there's no
catching up on that missed opportunity at a later time. Occasionally
I am scheduled an early shift at work, and I've found out that I'd
rather get up in what seems like the middle of the night to get that
time in than sleep a little later and go to work without it. One
morning recently as I sat down at the table I looked for the little
leaf coaster (see the previous story, Falling LEAVES) that
stays there to set my steaming mug of coffee on. I found it turned
upside down and tucked under some table clutter nearby. As I grabbed
it, flipped it over and arranged it properly under my cup, I laughed
to think that that's what God does to me in our time together - He
turns me right side up and pointed in the right direction for the day
ahead.
“And do not be
conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your
mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect
will of God.”
(Romans 12:2 NKJV)
I so admire you for your dedication to your devotional hour. I try to do the same, but sometimes the late nights on the blogs or watching tv with the family keep me from getting up early enough to spend enough quality time in study, thought and prayer before I need to leave for work. Thanks for this post, your example, and for all of your inspiring messages.
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