For the past several weeks I’ve been truly struggling with my thoughts, especially those towards my husband. It seems a door has been opened that wasn’t guarded and now it needs to be closed quickly. My quiet time with The Lord is usually first thing after waking up, but for the past month or so it’s been a struggle and I often choose that extra hour or so of sleep over my precious time in the word and prayer. I then find myself rushed by my sweet five year old and with little time to just be still and quiet before God.
I can see how destructive this decision has been to me and my family. Instead of being clothed in His truths, I’ve been clothed in bitterness, impatience, offense, selfishness, and distaste.
The Lord has continually placed the following verse before my eyes……..
“Let the words of my mouth and the mediation of my heart be pleasing and acceptable in your sight O Lord my strength and my redeemer.” (Psalms 19:14)
As I’ve sought to be diligent and disciplined in my morning time before The Lord, He has met me right there with grace. He has been so faithful in helping me and showing me truths that need to be seen in my life. As I read Matthew 27 this morning during my devotion, I was reminded of My Saviors humble and quiet spirit.
“Do you not hear how many things they testify against you? But he gave no answer, not even to a single charge, so that governor was greatly amazed.” (Matthew 27:13-14)
And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him and twisted together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him. (Matthew 27:28-31) He was accused, offended, mocked and spit on and yet He said NOTHING!!! He was still, He was humble and He did it out of love for us.
I pray that in those many moments when my flesh is puffed up and I so badly want to be offended and be offensive right back that the Spirit brings to my heart these truths. He did it out of love for us and obedience to the Father; we can do it out of love for Him and obedience to the Father who has called us all to love.
“But let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in Gods sight is very precious.” (1 Peter 3:4)
Lord, help us to hide these verses deep in our hearts and help us mediate on them night and day. Each morning that you wake us help us cloth ourselves in your truths, let us put on a gentle and quiet spirit, humility and patience, love and understanding, kindness and a tender heart, always willing to forgive.
“Therefore, a prisoner for The Lord, I urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:1-3)
Let’s take a moment to pray!
Help me to live and rest in you Lord, in your grace with the knowledge that I will never achieve perfection while here and that’s OK because where I am weak YOU are strong. I will never be a perfect wife or mother, friend or Christian and you haven’t called me to be. You Jesus did what I could not and lived a perfect life, dying a sacrificial death because you knew I couldn’t do it on my own. Teach me to rest in all you’ve done for me Lord. It is when I do, that all Joy and peace and contentment will be found. I love you Lord thank you so much. In Your Holy name Amen.
It’s so easy to be offended by every little thing our husbands do, that we don’t like, or maybe even the words they speak toward us at times, but The Lord has shown me that those little offenses are nothing more than a distraction, the enemy once again trying to steal from us. Let us strive to be more like Jesus and remain still, not returning the offense but rather turning the cheek.
Building strong marriages together,
Ashley Ladd
Thank you SO much, Ashley for being honest. I have been sleeping in too. 🙁 I know I need to go to bed earlier so I can get up earlier, but I don’t do it. I needed this reminder.
Heather you are most welcomed 🙂 I keep telling my husband we have got to get in the bed earlier. I love my morning quite time 🙂 I guess it’s called a discipline for a reason praying that God wakes us each morning and doesn’t let us go back to sleep lol