At the beginning of each week, I look through my schedule and process where I need to be for the next seven days and what I want to accomplish. This typically happens on Sunday shortly after a quick reprieve from the previous week while I’m still on that high from the message I heard at church.
While I may be more careful with how much I plan, I still plan. I can’t help myself. momAgenda calendars were made for paper lovers and long-term planners like moi. Not kidding. I carried my paper calendar in addition to my iPhone for nearly a year after I got it. I figure there are worse vices.
On Monday morning, I hit the ground running like everyone else—determined this week will be different. Determined that this week I will accomplish all I’ve planned to do. Oh, my friends. I even add my workouts to my calendar. Otherwise, I fear they won’t get done. And sometimes they don’t.
This isn’t over-planning, mind you. Just planning. I have to write things down, because I lack that really cool ability to remember everything I’m supposed to do otherwise.
But it almost never fails…at some point during the week, this has happened.
I find myself scrambling to rearrange my calendar to accommodate whatever bucket of water in the face has occurred. Why? Why, Lord?
I love that picture. Poor lady…yet, I can totally relate.
While not everyone feels the same way, I was so grateful for the two *snow* days we had recently. Do you ever feel like a prisoner to your calendar? Isn’t it nice to occasionally hit the pause button and just breathe? The extra time in my pj’s with my family was such a gift.
Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.
1 Peter 5:7-8 (NLT)
The enemy is smart. What may feel like a bucket of water in the face to me may not stress you at all. Satan is sneaky, and he is subtle. I’m sensitive about my time (or lack there of), so Satan tends to attack me through my schedule or my family. How and where are you most vulnerable? What do you do to protect yourself? Your family?
I have fallen into bed more than a few times utterly exhausted only to awaken in the middle of the night–unable to go back to sleep. My brain clicks on and starts running through the laundry list of things I either didn’t get done or things I need to do. Sometimes, I drift off to sleep again, and other times I don’t. Regardless, I’ve missed out on precious rest needed to get me through the next busy day.
So what’s a girl to do? My mom reminded me after one such night that the enemy often attacks while we sleep, because our bodies and minds are at rest. We aren’t vigilant in our sleep…but we can be. She encouraged me to pray the armor of God over my family and myself every night before I go to bed. What a smart idea, right? Sure, I’ve prayed the armor of God when I’m wide awake and feeling stressed, but I hadn’t thought about making it part of my bedtime routine.
A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
~ Ephesians 6:10-18 (NLT)
Next time you are feeling overwhelmed or like you’ve been hit in the face with a bucket of water, take a breath and pray the armor of God over yourself. Pray over your family. It can make a difference.
