Daily Verse – Psalms 18:2
Daily Verse – Psalm 17:7
Daily verse – Psalms 16:2
Most Important Relationship
Can we chat for a minute? There is a pressing on my heart that makes me want to share a little something with you. As I look around the places I frequent, I see all kinds of influences. It is a battle for attention. Who or what can gain the most followers? Quantity over quality. Casual over intimate. Relationships without connection.
Consider how we scroll through social media, or at least I do, with no real attachment to the posts. We may laugh, cry, shake our heads or cringe. But most posts are mindless wanderings for my brain. Empty time wasters. I don’t want my posts to be empty time wasters and I don’t want to get sucked into the constant stream of empty time wasters. I don’t want social media to be my most important relationship.
Now consider your conversations with the people you encounter everyday. And maybe this is more for me than it is for you. Brief, passing conversations that stay on the surface, no depth. Little time for commitment of heart and mind. Too busy to stop and sit and really listen.
But then there are those that you pour into. Those people that you call your people. Maybe your kids. Maybe your spouse. Maybe your best friend. You would do anything for your people. Think of them. You don’t visit social media to catch up with them. The connection is deeper.
How well do you know them? Do you know how they will respond in different circumstances? Can you picture their eyes in your mind? Do you have their movements and mannerisms memorized? Does your heart leap when you get to spend time with them? How much time have you spent with them? Do you feel like you are an extension of them? Or they are an extension of you? Does it hurt to try and imagine your life without them? Or maybe you have lost them and know well the heart ache of losing them but still carry them around with you in your heart? You still imagine their presence. All your senses know them. Your mind knows them. Your heart knows them.
Now what about your relationship with the Creator? Your relationship with God? Your relationship with Jesus Christ?
There will never be anything more important in your life than your relationship with Jesus Christ. That one relationship can alter every other relationship you have. It determines your eternity. It gives peace that is unattainable without it.
But as with any relationship, it takes work. You don’t really know someone unless you spend time with them. Not just an occasional visit one day a week or month or year.
Jesus knows you even more.
Jesus loves you even more.
Your people need you to know Jesus. They need you to make Him a priority. Because if you love Him, you will love them even better.
Do you want to know Him better? Ask Him. Let Him know you want to know Him better. Ask Him to lead you. Believe He will teach you. Trust Him to guide you in your learning. Now open the Bible. Don’t just read it but study it. Find a trusted group of believers to join for a study.
Ask God for discernment to know His truth and recognize false teachers. When you recognize them, leave them. Have nothing more to do with them except to pray for them.
Diligently seek Him.
He is the most important relationship you will ever have.
Daily Verse – Psalms 15:1-2
Daily Verse – Psalm 14:7
Restless Legs
Putting my car in park, I continue to think about the mountain of tasks on my to do list for the day. The thoughts continuously run through my mind. The work doesn’t end. Thankful for the work.
Unlocking the door, turning on lights, placing bags from shoulders to their resting place for the day. Pulling the contents for work out from the black bag to desk. Opening the black leather portfolio with pending items waiting for me to tackle. Back to bag for glasses, phone, ear buds, lunch to refrigerator, water bottle on desk. Monitors on, calculator on, login to computer. Open email.
Each day has a different number of messages sitting in the inbox. It is my to do list. Always hoping to empty it by the end of the day, understanding it is rare that happens. Selecting the first thing to tackle, sitting on the edge of my chair with hands on keyboard, my legs start bouncing.
I have had a desk job for over thirty-five years. The desks have changed but my habit of shaking my legs hasn’t. They bounce as I focus on whatever needs my brain power at the moment. From simple (mostly) to more complex. They bounce. They do seem to bounce more during mundane tasks.
Every now and then I try to stop bouncing them. Place an earbud in my ear with praise music to share my attention. An occasional interruption breaks up the day; calls, texts, visitors.
The bouncing always returns.
Do my bouncing, restless legs indicate my impatience? The need to move an outward expression of boredom or anxiousness? Not satisfied with just sitting in one place tackling the tasks on my computer and desk. It is my chosen career. Crunching numbers, organizing data, answering questions.
As Jesus sits, waiting, I picture Him still. At times, leaning forward slightly. Never with restless legs.
I picture His feet flat on the floor, strong support, waiting to jump from that seat to come get His sheep. Not bouncing His legs and tapping His fingers on the arms of His chair. Sitting, actively engaged in the waiting, but calmly watching and listening and interceding on behalf of those sheep. His heart and mind heavily engaged in each one, desperate for them to seek Him. Patient. Peaceful. Calm. Restful, not restless. But also, ready to go.
Where are you? Do you bounce your legs? Do you tap your fingers? Does the person in front of you at the traffic light cause your blood pressure to rise when the light turns green and sits there?
Just that last question might raise your blood pressure. If it does, just breathe. Take some time to stop everything and rest in Him. Look at His posture as a welcoming Savior wanting your attention. And give it to Him.
And stop shaking your legs.
