wise words from Abbey (& her grandma)

Abbey did our devotion this month & shared an excerpt from a book that her sweet 91-year-old grandmother recommended. Sometimes the right thing comes along in the most unexpected way! :)

Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.         (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

Abbey reminded us that we need to try to spend time all day every day communing with God in the mess of everyday life, not waiting or wishing for some fantasy or uncluttered version of life. In order to accomplish the "be cheerful no matter what" & "thank God no matter what" part of the scripture above, we really have to hone in on the "pray all the time" part.

Here's an excerpt from "Jesus Calling" by Sarah Young:

I am calling you to a life of constant communion with Me. Basic training includes learning to live above your circumstances, even while interacting on that cluttered plane of life. You yearn for a simplified lifestyle, so that your communication with Me can be uninterrupted. But I challenge you to relinquish the fantasy of an uncluttered world. Accept each day just as it comes, and find Me in the midst of it all. 

Talk with Me about every aspect of your day, including your feelings. Remember that your ultimate goal is not to control or fix everything around you; it is to keep communing with Me. A successful day is one in which you have stayed in touch with Me, even if many things remain undone at the end of the day. Do not let your to-do list (written or mental) become an idol directing your life. Instead, ask My Spirit to guide you moment by moment. He will keep you close to Me.  

Remember, a successful day isn't necessarily one in which we've checked everything off our "to do" list, but rather one in which we've spent communicated with God all day.

Thanks for the wonderful reminder, Abbey!