Gray Areas
Posted in Daily Focus on Thursday, October 24, 2013
The quiet time I was experiencing with the Lord before my homeschooling day overwhelmed me with conviction. I watched as the morning sun's rays attempted to burn off the gray cloud of fog that had settled as a blanket over our farm. The cool night air had met the warmth of Earth, and the resulting fog was locked in a battle with the sun's rays. As the strength of the sun's light grew more brilliant, the lesson God was teaching me also became clearer.
The heat from the problems of homeschooling during the last few days had met with the coldness of my disobedient, spiritual heart. Thankfulness had been replaced with grumbling and complaining about all the work I had to do. Gray areas of not knowing God's will had formed like a cloud, and I was confused. I attempted to justify my sinful actions to God based on the world's standards. In the valley of ungratefulness, the foggy cloud was encompassing more of my life. I was beginning to feel completely lost. Then, God's rays of truth in Philippians 2:13-14 burned away the cloud: "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputings."
Do you see gray clouds forming on the horizon of your life? God's Word is the light that will clear up those foggy areas. "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path" (Psalm 119:105). As you read His Word, you will discover that God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5).
Lord, Your Word is such a blessing for finding my way! Thank You for gently showing me Your truth and exposing those areas of sin that cloud my life. Help me to stay close to the light of Your love today. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Comments(18 comments)
DAWN M 10/24/2009 04:35:54
a timely word this morning...THANKS!
PATTI C 10/24/2009 06:38:59
Wow!!! This devotion was amazing and very timely!!! I was going through a miscarriage, the busyness of homeschooling children, 11, 10, 8, 6 & 3, the struggle of a disorganized home, bickering among the children, training of the young ones, etc...... I felt I was in a "fog" with no direction, yet I had to keep up with life's pace as it calls daily. I went out for a walk and cried out to the Lord for direction, help. His ever so firm, but gentle voice.....> read My Word..... We know when we hear the Lord telling us something, and surely this was it! I made time, yet again, to read His Word before I awake (quiet in the home) and in the evening before bed (quiet again!). Oh my, how He lifted the fog. It seems to cleanse me from the confusions, distractions of the daily living. This has to be a priority....for survival! Thank you for this great devotion.
LEE J 10/24/2010 05:17:32
As a pastor's wife and a homeschooling mom, I'm coming out of a 2 month fog even now... Trying to justify my sin (When God? Why God? How God? It's just not fair, God!) to Him just made me more miserable (and those around me, as well... 'cause we all know that 'if Momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy'!) As He continued to faithfully and lovingly remind me to turn my eyes upon Him, I was able to know that He never left me. I had strayed. I had sinned.
Thank you for sharing the heart of the problem...
CHARLOTTE B 10/24/2010 05:34:25
Hmmmm---grumblings and complaining---there has been a lot in this home the last couple of weeks as schoolwork has picked up. I wonder why God couldn't have given us a few more hours on the weekends to get more done outside of schoolwork? This devotion has hit home--this home--this mom's sin has been leading her children astray. Isn't this the opposite of what I set out to do in choosing to follow the Lord's leadership in homeschooling? Time to repent and rejoice in the days the Lord has given to me!! Thank you so much for my Daily Focus--I need it!!
Ralph G 10/24/2010 11:01:41
Yeah...gray clouds today. Thanks for the holding me accountable!
MICHELLE S 10/24/2010 17:10:01
Amen!
STEPHANIE R 10/25/2010 06:25:49
True!! I have and do grumble so very much! I find myself grumbling because my boys, 16, 13, 12 argue and bicker. But the Lord has shown me that I set the pace in that type of behavior with my grumbling and negative spirit. With the way that discipline. " Help me Father to be grateful and not grumble, to find the good in those around me, and to pray for the unlovely!" (which many times is me!)
Jody F 10/25/2010 07:57:59
Oftentimes last school year, I would constantly be plagued with the idea that \"I was doing it all wrong\", including the curriculum that I have chosen over the years. This year, I ask my children, ages 10 and 15, to tell their father one thing that they learned during the day. This happens at the dinner table each evening as we always eat together. I am often amazed at what they choose to tell him and this helps me to realize that they ARE learning, despite my concerns that they aren\'t. I had to choose a new curriculum for this year for our 15 year old which I wanted to be accredited. He had been doing LifePacs and SOS since he was in PreK. I wanted to switch to Virtual Schooling because it would only cost $75 and after I did the research it was convinced that this was the way the Lord wanted us to go. I was so distressed when I went to enroll him that I\'d missed their \"window\" for enrollment by 13 days and was told that registreation was closed. I had been also researching AlphOmega SOL (switched on-line) but because of the cost, was hesitant that this was the right choice. I had prayed that the Lord close the door on the one that He didn\'t want us to use, and He did indeed SLAM the one closed for Virtual Schooling. In retrospect, this wouldn\'t have been MY first choice, but now in our 2nd month of this curriculum I can indeed see that this is the one that he\'s now excelling in and enjoys everyday so far. I can not thank the Lord enough for steering me clear of the Virtual choice. Our kids at this age are still so impressionable and I can see now that I would have made a grave mistake. This maybe has nothing to do with today\'s devotion, but i felt the need to share this and possibly encourage someone going through this same struggle. Jody F.
CLEOMI M 10/26/2010 05:51:24
I like the prayer. I prayed it for myself as well.
Angela T 10/26/2010 12:28:27
A.R.T.........yes God cares about everything concerning me.....I am learning that He is a wonderful caring Father that guides my child and I through the darkest of fogs
MICHELLE H 10/24/2012 04:36:41
My grey area has been whether ot not to homeschool again...My daughter has been in public school for the last two months and our family has been struggling...I was shutting out God will by trying to justify why it will be okay...We are now back on track and I know this is what God wants for us.
CASSANDRA H 10/24/2012 05:09:59
Today I will spend more time thanking God for His blessings, love, mercy, grace, and favor; and less time whining, complaining, mumbling, grumbling, and using words that give Satan power and no glory to God. God You are awesome!!!! Thank You for all that You have done for me and everything You are still doing. I give You all the glory, the honor, and praise!!
ROBERT G 10/24/2012 05:25:07
R. Maria
Patti C.- I am so sorry that you have recently had a miscarriage. It is very painful to experience the death of a child at any age. Do be gentle with yourself and take some time to grieve your loss, and get someone to help around the house for a while. I know it is hard at times, but try to trust in God\'s love for you and all your beautiful family.
EVELYN S 10/24/2012 05:39:50
I so needed to see this today. The past few weeks have been gray. Only by the power of the Lord - not our own strength - to raise a generation for Him.
KATHY S 10/24/2012 14:17:41
Disasters today. Thanks to your devotional, I will thank God for each one and believe that he will fix it all. In Jesus name, Amen.
James Barkley 10/24/2013 12:09:02
Thank you for this accurate account , I also find myself trying to justify my behavior when I should be repenting and asking for God's strength to change and accept. Also to move forward and into his light. You were right on with this message!
SHEILA MOSLEY 10/24/2013 12:32:07
This was just what I needed this morning. Thank you.
LaRae Puckett 10/24/2013 15:16:06
Beautifully said! Thank you for sharing. Focusing on the Light... One day at a time.