You ever call a time out in life? That’s what I did this past Sunday morning….
It was only Sunday, but the weight of the coming week was already pressing on me, along with a few “things” from the past week that were still grating on me. Collectively, it was stealing my peace on what is one of my favorite times of the week…. Sunday morning.
You see, I don’t just show up to church on Sunday morning. No sir. I get my mind right long before I arrive. I mentally prepare, I shut the world out and I am in the moment. That’s my time with God to refresh, worship, learn, recharge, and I look forward to it.
As I drove up the interstate though, I became angry. Not at anyone, but at the enemy for constantly messing with me, and in that moment I felt it clear as a bell. God calling me to a quiet place, to come sit. So, I did.
Arriving at St.Paul’s Episcopal church I poured me a cup of coffee in the parish hall, walked to the parlor overlooking the parking lot, shut the doors, turned out the lights, sat down in the dim silence and glanced at the clock on my phone. 9:44…. I had 11 minutes.
After a moment to collect my thoughts, I very calmly, and surprisingly, started in on the enemy….
You threw a hundred excuses at me this morning to stay home, but here I am, again, and my family is on the way to join me.
You don’t define who I am. I am not a failure; I am a work in progress. I know some of that progress concerns you greatly, and for good reason.
I know you will never give up on me and I accepted that a long time ago, but neither will God, and you have no more power over my life than I give you, or God allows you to have.
No, I don’t know how I am going to navigate some of the “things” in my life today or some of the “things” that will surely arrive in time…. but God does. He is already there, He has already made a way, and no amount of worry or anxiety you throw on me can change that, so long as I trust in Him.
I am God’s child, the son of a King. I am among His most cherished creations and while what happens to me in the days and years ahead are unknown, what will happen to me in eternity is a certainty, and you will not be there.
You will not steal my joy and my peace this morning. Those belong to me.
Then…. I turned my attention to God, asked Him for nothing, and thanked Him for the litany of “things” in my life that I have to be thankful for each day.
I glanced at the clock on my phone again. 9:52…. three minutes.
For three minutes, I just sat there watching the cars pass on Old Shell Road, listening to myself breath, and enjoying the Peace that had not only filled the room, but filled my soul.
In those final moments, the enemy had been cast out. There was just me and God.
9:55…. I slammed the rest of my coffee, gathered my things, left the room, and walked into church, with a clear mind and a calm soul.
Get In The Boat. Do Your Part.
Fight Back…. From Nose To Toes!
Shane / #16