Good Intentions
Posted in Daily Focus on Wednesday, November 6, 2013
"Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread" (Proverbs 20:13).
Another morning was getting away from me. I knew I should have gotten up early when I heard the alarm clock, but the covers felt so good on this crisp, fall morning. Certainly God wouldn't mind if I prayed to Him while lying down under the blankets. As I began my prayers, I felt my body start to drift. Shaking off the sleep, I started once again, but the sleepiness came back. An entire hour later, I was still in bed. I was late to start homeschooling my children and knew I would be playing "catch up" for the rest of the day without God's strength or guidance.
Peter, James, and John lost the same battle of sleep when Jesus asked them to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane. Three times the Lord asked them to pray, and three times they fell asleep and heard His words, "What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak" (Matthew 26:40b-41). Falling asleep when Jesus needed them the most, the disciples certainly failed.
Do you have good intentions to have a quiet time with the Lord each morning? Good intentions are not enough! Satan loves to tempt us to listen to the desires of our flesh and miss our devotions. Without the Holy Spirit's empowering, we, too, will fail in our attempts to walk with the Lord, as well as in our efforts to homeschool. Don't be like the disciples or the foolish virgins in Matthew 25:1-13 who fell asleep waiting for the bridegroom. Stay alert and offer the prayers and worship to the Lord that are due to Him. "Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man" (Proverbs 24:33-34).
Jesus, forgive me for being lazy in my efforts to come to You each day. I recognize the importance of Your sweet fellowship and recommit my life to You today. In Your name, Amen.
Comments(16 comments)
MISTY O 11/06/2009 15:08:34
Was someone spying on me this morning? Just kidding. But this was so on the money. Oh, how does God time these things? Someday we'll know. Thanks for your wonderful devotions.
laura s 11/06/2010 03:43:20
Sometimes I give the Lord the leeway to wake me or let me sleep in a little longer- especially on the weekend if I am on the verge of sickness or something. I think sometimes He wants us more disciplined, other times to recieve his gracious gift of sleep. I've certainly been in both positions.
MARY S 11/06/2010 07:18:56
Mary S
Every day these devotions are exactly what I need to hear. I am
especially needing this one. I was always critical of those disciples for falling asleep until I realized I was so much like them. Lord, give me the strength to ignore the desires of the flesh and to obey Your Spirit's prompting.
OLIVIA S 11/07/2010 09:06:13
So this devotion is basically saying we shouldn't love sleep, once that alarm clock rings we should get out of bed, or is it to always have time for devotion, or both. I'm confused at what the message is about, sorry, can anyone help me?
After all I kind of understand it, I do love sleep and tend to not listen to that alarm but I'm still trying to discipline myself a lot more!
EILEEN M 11/07/2010 17:14:11
"Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise." Didn't Ben Franklin say this? I find myself living out this statement ever since I've had my 5th child. I love to get up early to prepare for the day. It is my favorite time as I seem to have the most energy. At night I seem to collapse sometimes. I also know what if feels like when it's hard to get moving - especially on cold mornings when you don't want to leave the warm covers or shower. Before we begin our work, we try to start out with a Morning Offering. It is a wonderful way to start the day! My daughter starts her work at 6:00 am or 6:30 am. Don't ask me how we do it. We just know we work best in the morning (before my 4 year old wakes up too).
DOMANICKA D 11/06/2011 04:01:53
I have realized that if I don't have my quiet time with the Lord before my kids are awake or before I get busy doing other things my day starts out a little chaotic. I so deperately need the Lord and to be in constant communion with Him. He gives me the strength and wisdom on how to carry out my day. Thanks for the reminder to watch as well as pray.
MELISSA D 11/06/2011 21:43:32
thank you, so much for these devotion where would we be without extorting each other i wouldn't want to know we as Christians, we need these daily . especially when we are alone when we can let the tears flow.Thank you Jesus
MELISSA D 11/06/2011 21:49:46
To: Misty O, doesn't it seem that way, God is so awesome he knows all and is everywhere, and oh how the Holy Spirit works through his people in just that way. And aren't we glad he does!!!
MELISSA D 11/06/2011 21:54:29
And lets not forget all powerful. Thank you again God for loving us, even when we fail.
BETHANY B 11/06/2012 05:35:51
Thank you so much for these devotionals! This one in spot on!! This is an area that I have been struggling with lately, and this encouragement is just what I needed. God\'s timing is always perfect.
KATHY S 11/06/2012 06:57:55
Olivia S.
Don\'t feel alone, I\'m 46 yrs old and am having a time with this one too. I think it means take time to pray to the Lord in the morning for guidance. I personsally don\'t thinnk it has to be at a vertain time.
We get up later and start school later here, but we get sick frequently, so I believe the sleep is good.
The \"ye\" and \"thee\" in the Bible quotes always throw me off.
I use \"The Book\" which is the Bible in it\'s simplest terms.
Now I know I\'ll be hit left and right for saying that.
I\'ve seen my Christian sisters on this website get extremly upset when you mention using easier to understand Bible quotes.
So for me, I\'m just praying that Jesus will help me to understand this devotional as best as I can. I think it means just pray for guidance before you start your day. To me I have no husband and only one child, so we will do our schedule as we feel is most beneficial to us. But for sure spend time with the Lord before starting the day.
Everyone have a Blessed day!
DARLA S 11/06/2012 07:23:26
I did the same thing this morning with our \'before schooltime\' prayers. I was feeling so bad about it. After reading this, I realized I was not alone. I still feel bad, but now I am able to see that I am not the only one who falls short sometimes. We all fall short sometimes. Thanks for the lesson!
ALEZA J 11/06/2012 07:36:19
Kathy s, I read both the kjv with the thees and thous with a newer version. If I done understand what the kjv says I look at niv than read kjv again
Its really helped me understand it better.
KATHY S 11/06/2012 09:14:56
Thank you Aleza J. I never thought of that. I appreciate your help! :)
JENNIFER MILLS 11/06/2013 12:39:30
Wow, this was so "on time" for me. I have periods where I get up early and spend time with the Lord, then because of one of the kids getting up in the night, or going out of town, family come into town etc... I get off doing it. And it is so hard to get back to it. I have tried to spend time with Him at night, but I think my day is always better when I have put the Lord first. Just so hard to be consistent with it... anyone have any things that help them?
Tara Allen 11/06/2014 17:47:57
This blessed me so. I am as transparent as the Lord allows and to find that you are as well, it is a blessing. I experienced this this morning with some help with a very late night. Spending time with Abba is very crucial as it will help our flesh stay where it is suppose to especially if you have a child. We take several breaks and usually they are influenced by the Holy Spirit who seas all. We will engage in worship through song and dance and then come back together to finish our lessons. Yes Our lessons. I learn much from my 6yr old and the lessons have been very helpful in me and my husband teaching character. Thank you for you faithfulness and diligence. May Adonai continue to keep you himbly in His arms, in Yeshua/Jesus name.