Friday, September 22, 2017 Carving Space (The Discipline of Study, Part 5) (Inspired by Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster)

Friday, September 22, 2017

Carving Space (The Discipline of Study, Part 5)

(Inspired by Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster)

Scripture:

Psalm 119:114 MSG

You're my place of quiet retreat; I wait for your Word to renew me.

Devotional:

Today’s passage in Celebration of Discipline is on the creating of space in our schedules to concentrate on study, and in particular planning a concentrated, phone-free period of time away from the home to study.

There are times as I study the books that the Lord lays on my heart that I am tempted to skim past parts that I’m not ready for, or ready to share about. Today was one such day. This is not because I don’t agree with the precious Pastor Foster, but in fact because I feel so often overwhelmed by the suggestion he puts forth.

I share this with you because I feel the Lord is impressing on me that I need to be open and honest with you about the real struggles that we can all relate to. As moms and dads, and perhaps even more so as parents of strong willed children, the idea of taking some of my treasured time and focusing it on study rather than “self-care” or simple rest borders on frustrating but is definitely overwhelming. I could argue that I don’t have time, but the truth is that all matters of importance require the carving of time and careful planning.

I am grateful to the Lord that He is wise and kind, and that He desires good things for us all. I’ll be praying about how this might play out in my life, but for now will continue to wake up early as I do to carve this time with the Lord. I pray that we will all find a new space of devotion and study as we follow His call!

Prayer:

Thanksgiving:

Lord, thank You that You are with me in the times of ease and in the times of challenge. I thank You for this call to retreat, and that You only offer good things from Your heart to mine. You are holy and loving, God. I bless You.

Confession:

I lift my heart to You each day and ask that You will cleanse me anew. Cause me to be fully humble before You, and to hold nothing back. I confess (name area of struggle or sin. Daily confession is a way of life that brings healing for the believer and deepens our connection with God. God also promises healing as we confess to one another (James 5:16). Mine today: God, I confess that I struggle with anger and resentment toward others, especially other drivers and people in customer service. I do not want to have this place of trigger in my heart. Remove the roots that go deep, Lord. Fill it with love that I would not sit in judgment but in grace. Help this not to be a stumbling block in my home. Create me new and fresh in this area today. I am also struggling with impatience with my children and my husband. Forgive me, God. Help me to choose kindness.)

Supplication:

I ask that You will provide the time for me to be able to partake in this rich spiritual discipline, and that You will protect that time. Remove distractions, and help me to choose to remove them as well. Show me ways that I can carve time. I also ask that You will anoint me fresh today to parent my children. I want to be filled with You and represent You to them so that they will want to know You more.

Intercession:

God, I ask that my children will grow up on a diet of the Word. I pray that as I share Your Word with them, they will find their own joy in study. (Journal areas of need or concern. Chloe today: She struggles so much with entitlement. It gets exhausting to train her, and I need a fresh inflow of Your Spirit to instill an understanding of the difference between need and want. Help us to pour Your truth into her as we implement the strategies we feel You are leading us in. Help us not to give in to “cute” requests or be manipulated by her angry outbursts. Help us to give vitamin “no” with love and grace but resolve as well. Christian today: I worry so much that he doesn’t understand the REASON he needs structure and discipline. Help him and us to have moments of clarity where we can see the light bulbs going off that he understands. Help his heart to desire to do what he should. Thank You so much that You have helped him to improve in the area of not running away from us when we are in dangerous situations!) Bless my children today, God. You are the true Parent of each of them and of us. I release them to You and trust You to orchestrate their lives. Thank You for trusting me to parent them.

Thanksgiving and Consecration:

God, I bless You and thank You for meeting me here today! You are holy, so lovely, and wonderful. Seal these prayers. I thank You that You store my tears in Your bottle (Psalm 56:8), and that You care for each aspect and facet of our lives. In Jesus’ Name I pray, amen.