It’s too bad that I wasn’t in a “Who can walk the most steps?” contest. I would have brought home the trophy.
My goodness. I was up and down and in and out of my chair like a mama of four toddlers at the supper table. I wandered around the kitchen, looked at my bookshelves, checked to see if the mail had come, opened and closed the dishwasher, and just … wandered. Aimlessly.
What was I trying to do? Write.
Ooftah.
That thin, little black cursor just kept blinking on the white sheet of paper on my computer screen. The words weren’t coming. And the distractions were bright neon signs every time I looked away.
So. I decided to go for a walk. Shake out the fuzzies, get the creative juices flowing, and pray for words.
It worked.
My steps hadn’t even gotten me to our neighbor’s mailbox when I heard a quiet voice whisper, “You need to settle your heart. When your heart’s not settled, you aren’t grounded. And if you aren’t grounded, you can’t think clearly.”
Well. I knew that whisper brought truth. And I also knew that my swirling and wandering had started hours before. In my morning time.
My morning rhythm is to spend time studying. I’m usually reading a book written by someone sharing their faith lessons, and I’m studying the Bible. And I pray. Plan. Dream. Make some notes. Nothing fancy, but that time grounds me. Prepares me for the day.
This morning? Not so much. My phone became the focus of my attention. I found the lives of others on Instagram so interesting that I needed to scroll and tap and send emojis as I read how they were living their lives. Headline news was telling me about events and conversations that had absolutely no impact on my day, but in those moments, they seemed to be the most important and influential messages my life needed.
I became overly concerned about the women’s Olympic gymnastics team. (Did the best athletes really get on the Tokyo trip?) Masterpiece Theater – is there a good show on tonight? Where did my grocery list go?
Ugh. Ooftah. Have mercy.
(Fun fact here: Growing up, being “grounded” indicated I had done something wrong, and I couldn’t leave the house for a week except for school. My grounding back then most frequently came as a result of getting an “Ooftah” from my piano teacher because I wasn’t prepared for the lesson. (Yes. He really did give Ooftah’s.) The car ride home included a chorus of waah-waahs in which I sang all the parts in harmony.)
These days, getting myself grounded in the morning is pretty much the only way I can keep my priorities straight and show up in life with a clear mind and heart. Through Bible reading and prayer, they are filled with truths. Hope. Peace. And it’s the time when God and I discuss all things—the good, the bad, and the ugly. I didn’t let it happen this morning. And the rest of the day sputtered.
Are you feeling some of that swirling or wandering these days? You obviously are not alone.
Here is my suggestion:
Sit yourself down every morning and settle in. Set your phone aside. Take 10 minutes to invite God into your day. Let HIS peace and promises settle your heart.
And …
If you aren’t on speaking terms with God right now? Don’t think for a minute you have to fix things in your faith life before you show up. Your season doesn’t scare God. He’s still there. Tell Him what doesn’t make sense to you or why you’re upset.
If you’ve got a lot on your mind – worries, questions, requests? Tell Him about them. Do a brain dump verbally with Him. Then breathe. Listen.
If you are excited about the day and you are ready to jump in? Use your settling in time to thank Him for all He’s doing. Keep inviting Him into your day—relationships, work, dreams.
If we’ve been friends here for a while, you may remember how much I’ve appreciated Robert J. Morgan’s book, “Mastering Life Before It’s Too Late.” He writes:
“Your God has gone before you to provide all your needs. He can recalibrate His plans for your life, recalculate your path, and help you begin right now. You can turn trials into trails; you can still master life before it’s too late. You can be a pleasant and productive soul, and He can work in your life in ways greater than you can imagine.”
That recalibration and recalculation only comes when we settle ourselves with Him. When we are grounded with His truths.
So. Let’s settle ourselves in the morning.
Let’s get grounded for the day.
Let’s ask God to prepare us for what’s ahead.
P.S. One of my very favorite books on prayer is Matthew Kelly’s “I Heard God Laugh: A Practical Guide to Life’s Essential Daily Habit.” I mean, really. The title alone signals this is a great read! God laughs!
