I'm finally getting consistent with my early morning prayer time. I hope there comes a day when "missing it" isn't an option, ever. That will be a good thing! Every now and again, I find myself out the door early and on my way somewhere, when it occurs to me that I haven't even said "Good Morning" to God. That's scary. Talk about vulnerable -- Going out into the world, spiritually unclothed. Yikes! I know that may seem rather severe to some, but hey, would you go out of the house without make-up? or without brushing your teeth? or without deodorant?
I wonder what I look like without prayer? Have you ever run out of the house, just to do a quick errand at the store, and caught a quick glimpse of yourself in a mirror? Yikes! I'll never do that again. What if one of my clients saw me? What if one of my readers saw me?My goal is to make a good impression with everyone I meet, and spiritually speaking, what do I look like without a smile? One Sunday, I caught myself at an early morning church service, without a smile and very grumpy. It wasn't pretty! The clash between goodness and grumpiness was too much to handle. I headed home right after service to "adjust" my attitude before I infected anybody.
Or what if my countenance is dreary and depressed? Do I really want to share that with the world? As a Christian, my business is to promote positivity. Dressing in depression and despair is not an option... especially when a few minutes in the prayer closet can fix all that, ever so nicely.
Please know that I'm not pushing a false smile. What do we call that? "Wearing a mask." No, no. Authenticity is where it's at. But inthe same respect, that shouldn't give us liberty to just let it all hang out either.
I prefer to "work it out" and "get myself together" with God.
That way, I can face the world with a real smile, a positive mindset, and an aura of peace and joy. And let me just add this. It's not fair to treat my family any less respectfully. Sometimes it's about not coming out of my bedroom in the morning before being spiritually adjusted, let alone going out of the house.
Now I know that none of us would ever leave the house without brushing our teeth. Right? Because we don't want to breathe wretchedness on anyone that we may encounter. I wonder what could possible come out of my mouth if I didn't brush with God's Word everyday. Negativity perhaps? Vulgarity? Gossip? Anger? Foolish Banter? Jealousy? There's something to think about. Talk about first impressions? Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit. Spending time with the Holy Spirit causes self-control to grow in my life.
Or what about a day without deodorant. Watch out!!! You can lose a lot of friends, real fast, with that one... not to mention your confidence. So often that affirming story in the morning devotional is just what I need to keep me confident throughout the entire day. And it can be "time-released" giving me a boost in the morning, then again in the afternoon. It even works in those unexpected moments... when something stressful pops up out of nowhere.I guess it's not just about putting on RED shoes every morning to remind myself to look for God. It's about wearing God. Allowing Him to effect me so much that people don't even notice my RED shoes. Instead, they see Christ in me. Wow! Now that would be something. Judges 6:24 says...
"God clothed Himself with Gideon".
Maybe someday God will clothe Himself with Gail?
Okay... that's a little heavy duty to be thinking about right now... but you never know what God has in store for you on this Yellow Brick Road called Life.
Until tomorrow,
Gail
