The biggest thing I've noticed the last three days since not watching TV (except for maybe an episode of Blue's Clues with Zooey or a Family Feud with Ryan - my husband is like a senior citizen when it comes to his love of game shows, but that's another story) is how much extra time I have. It's amazing what I can get done at night when I'm not sitting down watching an hour of TV. I've organized some of Zooey's toys, cleaned some spots on the walls, done laundry, cleaned out a closet and other random tidying up. I've also started reading the news again. I try not to spend too much time on the news, though, because it usually either makes me mad or anxious! I am also continuing to read some YouVersion devotionals on the iPad. If you're looking for a good devotional, they have some. I'm currently reading the "Parenting by Design" plan and a couple on grief.
Combining a summer study on the subject of idolatry and trying to cut out ungodly entertainment has shown me that I do put entertainment in God's spot in my heart far too often. I've also realized that I think I do this as a means to escape stress. If something's bothering me, I don't stress eat or do yoga, I turn to something to take my mind off of it. It's been kind of an interesting discovery. This has been a hard month for me so far, and rightly so. A year ago on the 19th was Zooey's early party, and after that things were just rough. When I start to think about my mom, I almost always want to turn my attention to something else (iPad, phone, book, TV).
I want to show you Psalm 42:
Combining a summer study on the subject of idolatry and trying to cut out ungodly entertainment has shown me that I do put entertainment in God's spot in my heart far too often. I've also realized that I think I do this as a means to escape stress. If something's bothering me, I don't stress eat or do yoga, I turn to something to take my mind off of it. It's been kind of an interesting discovery. This has been a hard month for me so far, and rightly so. A year ago on the 19th was Zooey's early party, and after that things were just rough. When I start to think about my mom, I almost always want to turn my attention to something else (iPad, phone, book, TV).
I want to show you Psalm 42:
Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.
My soul is downcast within me;
therefore I will remember you
from the land of the Jordan,
the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar.
Deep calls to deep
in the roar of your waterfalls;
all your waves and breakers
have swept over me.
By day the Lord directs his love,
at night his song is with me—
a prayer to the God of my life.
I say to God my Rock,
“Why have you forgotten me?
Why must I go about mourning,
oppressed by the enemy?”
My bones suffer mortal agony
as my foes taunt me,
saying to me all day long,
“Where is your God?”
Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God. (Psalm 42:1-11 NIV84
We know that when Scripture repeats itself, especially in a particular passage, it's important; one teacher I had said it's like God is putting it in CAPS, bold & italysis for us to pay special attention to. Notice the psalmist says three times that his soul is downcast within him. There's the problem. What's the solution? To "put your hope in God," praise your Savior and God and remember Him.
Too often Satan and the world come at us with ways to deal with our pain. It could be something like drugs or it could be something like a distraction. Whatever it is, it surely promises to feel good for the moment, but I am noticing that which "feels good" or is fun or distracts merely pulls me away from the place I should be going when I feel downcast and disturbed, to Jesus, my Savior and my God. I am going to make an effort, with His enabling, to turn to Him and be honest with Him about all my feelings. He is the Healer of hearts, and I know that what He gives is not short-lived but will live on for eternity.
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