• Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Aimee Smith - Rest in the Trench

Helping homeschool moms cultivate victorious rest

  • About
  • Blog
  • Speaking
  • Contact
  • Shop

10 Suggestions to Create Space for Jesus in your Schedule

8 Dec

Are you brave enough to admit the truth?

Like the Bethlehem inn that was too full to receive Jesus, your schedule is often too full to allow Him space. Ouch. The truth hurts.

Stop. No feelings of guilt!

There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 

There is, however, a Savior who desperately wants to be with you.

I expect you want to enjoy His presence on a regular basis. You hear His whispers of love and grace inviting you to come close. You desire that He have priority in your heart. But your world clamors for your attention. Appointments, responsibilities, activities, tasks, interruptions. Your day seems gone before it begins.

How can you create space for Jesus?

Consider implementing one of the following suggestions. No need to perform and accomplish all of them. Creating space for Jesus is more about awareness than performance. Make one simple choice to allow His presence into whatever your schedule may hold.

Seek Him first

The best way to create space for Jesus in your schedule is to make it your priority. First thing, talk with Him. I’m not talking about an hour-long time of prayer and Bible study. Jesus wants relationship with you, and relationship is built by conversation. Greet your day with “Good morning, Jesus.” Grab a quick verse to hear His voice. Confess that you will be distracted today. Ask Him to draw you close to Himself.

Wake early

If your house is like mine, this might be your only opportunity for quiet space to sit at Jesus’ feet uninterrupted (or at least partially uninterrupted). The Psalmist declared “we bring a sacrifice of praise”. Sometimes, a sacrifice of sleep offers the space to focus on being with Jesus.

Sleep late

But some days…You just need the sleep. When your babies are little, your children are sick, your body is weary, waking early may actually hinder you from allowing Jesus into your day. So sleep, and don’t feel guilty. Jesus will still be there when you wake up.

Say no to a good activity

You have a plethora of options for your calendar this month and your schedule today. You hear the advice to say no. Perhaps you should listen. Realize that every “no” paves the way for a “yes”. As you relinquish an opportunity, consider how that space in your time can be filled with Jesus.

Say yes to an invitation

But saying no is not a magic cure, and you certainly should not refuse every opportunity. Saying yes creates space for Jesus if you will talk with Him about the decision. Wait to respond with a yes or no until after you have asked for His guidance, and either answer becomes the path for allowing Him into your day.

Schedule time to breathe

Yes, write it in your calendar! Mark off a day to stay home, go to the park, read a book, play with your children. Plan five minutes to cease striving to complete your list of tasks. Take a moment to look in your child’s eyes. Linger a moment in the quiet (even if you must create quiet in your mind in the midst of noise in your ears). Take a deep breath and speak to Jesus.

Pause for prayer stops

Jesus doesn’t need a thirty minute time slot allotted in today’s plan. He wants to enter every moment as you go through the day. But my experience has revealed my need to train myself to be aware. I need intentional times, frequently, to cultivate a heart that seeks Jesus. So set a timer for regular moments: 9:00, 12:00, 3:00, 6:00. Whisper a prayer of thanks for something, someone right in front of me. Whisper a plea for help for the current circumstance.

Engage in slow

Take a walk. Sip a hot drink. Gaze at the lights. Read (a few lines of) a book. Be amazed by Creation. Play a game. Stare at the fire. Listen to laughter. Breathe when you hear fighting. Think before responding. Whisper a prayer of thanks that Jesus is near.

Just sit still

Just stop. The frenzy of our world distracts us from realizing Jesus is right here, right now. You do not have to stop everything to be aware of His presence, but sometimes you do need to stop for a moment. This might be the hardest suggestion to implement in your reality. Yet, this simple act could transform your perspective of creating space for Jesus. You just might realize your need is not to allow Him into your schedule but to grow in your awareness that He is already with you.

Give yourself grace

Jesus is not asking for your performance. He just wants to be with you. Creating space for Him in your schedule is not a matter of creating the perfect schedule. It is a matter of enjoying His presence throughout your day.

Some of these suggestions may seem contradictory. Well, they are. Only the Holy Spirit knows what you need. Ask Him. Choose one. Enjoy His presence.

Choose one way to enjoy Jesus’ presence today, whatever your schedule may hold.
Create space for Jesus by a simple choice.

 

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Print
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Categories:
Rest in the Trench

« How to Foster a Restful Heart During Christmas
10 Recommendations to Create Space for Jesus in Your Relationships »
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

aimeesmith.restinthetrench

Homeschooling... Seeking rest in chaos... Persevering through chronic illness... Tenaciously worshiping in trials... Clinging to Jesus through it all.

aimeesmith.restinthetrench
After a decade of homeschooling, I wonder if I'll After a decade of homeschooling, I wonder if I'll ever be consistent. Our homeschool story consists of one disruption after another life interruption. I often wonder, "if only I could be consistent..."
.
I have discovered something far better. God is constant. He's the same yesterday, today, and forever. You see, my consistency places the weight of success or failure on my shoulders, but God hasn't asked me to produce a successful homeschool. He has called me to praise and trust Him.
.
"My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast. I will sing, yes, I will sing praises!" (Psalm 57:7)
.
God's constancy overshadows my consistency, or lack thereof. So I will sing His praise, and my heart will be steadfast. That's what my family really needs anyway: Mom's steadfast heart.
.
#restfulhomeschool #restinthetrench #homeschoolburnout #homeschoolprayers #homeschoolmom #homeschoolstruggles
We may not know what's ahead. . We may not know wh We may not know what's ahead.
.
We may not know which direction to turn.
.
But we know the One who walks with us all along the way.
.
(If you aren't confident you're walking with Jesus, if you're unable to find peace, please reach out. I would love to talk with you.)
.
#restfulhomeschool #homeschoolburnout #homeschoolprayers #homeschoolmom #homeschooldevotions
What if being still is a prerequisite for knowing What if being still is a prerequisite for knowing God?
.
For really knowing Him. For truly believing He WILL be exalted in all the earth. For being able to relax and rest knowing all will be ok.
.
"(God) says, 'Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.'" Psalm 46:10
.
What if the AND is really a SO?
.
Be still SO you *can* know. Be still in order to KNOW. .
He is God.
.
Maybe this is part of why God instructs us to rest.
.
#restfulhomeschool #homeschoolprayers #homeschoolmom #homeschooldevotions #homeschoolburnout #homeschoolencouragement #homeschoolstruggles
I might have a problem. What are you reading? . #r I might have a problem. What are you reading?
.
#restfulhomeschool #homeschoolmom #homeschoolbooks
Wait. . Is this the story of our entire lives righ Wait.
.
Is this the story of our entire lives right now? Why do we have such desire for something beyond the current moment? What are we waiting for?
.
My mind, as yours I expect,  is filled with many unanswered questions and much uncertainty. And so we wait.
.
As we wait, let's keep our focus.
.
Psalm 53:9 - "I will wait on Your Name for it is good."
.
Wait on Jesus. He is good.
"Restore to me the JOY of your salvation." Psalm 5 "Restore to me the JOY of your salvation." Psalm 51:12a
.
.
Every morning. I need His restoration.
.
Every morning. He gives us His Word. He offers renewal. He restores our joy.
.
What did you read in God's Word today?
.
#restinthetrench #restfulhomeschool #homeschoolprayers
No gatherings for worship or fellowship today. Clo No gatherings for worship or fellowship today. Clouds instead of a glorious sunrise. A threat of major storms here in the southeast. Jesus, why couldn't we at least have a beautiful day? What are You trying to accomplish?
.
A few minutes in Luke 24 reveals the first Easter wasn't all glorious either. People were filled with confusion, fear, and doubt.
.
Women arrived at the tomb early to serve Jesus. Peter ran to the tomb only to return with confused answers. Men walking to Emmaus encountered a puzzling stranger.
.
Until they each had a personal encounter with Jesus Himself. He explained the Scriptures, opened their eyes, and gave understanding to their minds.
.
Jesus gave them peace, promise, and an expectation of power. .
Their world continued in unrest, but they were changed.
.
How will Jesus' peace, promise, and power change us today?
Load More... Follow on Instagram
This error message is only visible to WordPress admins

Error: API requests are being delayed for this account. New posts will not be retrieved.

Log in as an administrator and view the Instagram Feed settings page for more details.

Categories

  • Rest in the Trench
  • Uncategorized
  • About
  • Blog
  • Speaking
  • Contact
  • Shop

Copyright © 2021 · Bloom theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2021 · Bloom Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in