Lysa TerKeurst
"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NIV)
I wonder if the greatest witnessing tool available to us Christians is often pushed aside because of our busyness.
The other day I was focused on all the items on my seemingly never ending to do list. As I was sitting at a stoplight a friend called me and started lamenting that her son had forgotten his lunch and his belt required by the school's uniform policy. She was stressed and trying to get in touch with her husband who'd just dropped her son off at school. She was at home with a new baby feeling groggy from a sleepless night and overwhelmed by her situation.
Her son could probably get his friends to share their lunches with him. But, the belt would be a problem. The school would call her when they noticed the missing belt and require her to bring one. She lives over 20 minutes from the school.
As I sat at the stoplight listening to my friend, I looked to the store off to my right. That store has belts. That store has lunch food. I was faced with a decision. Could I help? Well, I could but my schedule would have to be rearranged a bit. Would I help? My friend wasn't asking but in that moment I knew it would be a tremendous blessing for her.
This day I wouldn't let my busyness take precedence over the blessing of divine interruptions and opportunities to love. So, I helped.
I don't know this for sure but I suspect my friend had been asking Jesus to please help her. It's hard being up half the night with a sleepless baby. It's hard to find a new normal when life gets a little off kilter by changes in the family dynamic. It's hard when you need help but feel like everyone is so busy you hate to bother them.
Now, I'll admit, I'm a task-oriented person so it doesn't come naturally for me to look for ways to be interrupted in the midst of my busyness. But sitting at that stoplight, I realized the power of pausing. Pausing just long enough for Jesus to tap on the edge of my heart and say, "Could you? Would you? Do this as if it's the most important part of your day and not an unwelcome interruption."
The Bible teaches one of the most important precepts is love. When we love others we are living the message of Jesus. And listen to what Psalm 19:8 says, "The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes."
Oh how many times have I missed the joy of pausing to live and love and light the world for Jesus?
Dear Lord, help me to pause today and remember my great witnessing tool is to simply be available to love others. Show me where I can love. Make me courageous enough to step aside my carefully planned to do list and look for ways to be an answer to the prayers someone has prayed today. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Related Resources:
Visit Lysa’s blog for a fun contest to win a gift for you and one to share with a friend!
Becoming More Than a Good Bible Study Girl by Lysa TerKeurst
What Happens When Women Walk in Faith by Lysa TerKeurst
Application Steps:
Spend some time praying about an opportunity to be interrupted today. Remember when the interruptions come…connect them with the prayer you prayed and enjoy your experience of God.
Reflections:
Is there anyone in my life that is currently going through some changes where I could practically lend a hand?
How can I create some more white space in my life to make myself more available to help others?
Power Verses:
Deuteronomy 15:7-8, "If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother. Rather be openhanded and freely lend him whatever he needs." (NIV)
Psalm 19:8, "The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes." (NIV)
© 2009 by Lysa TerKeurst. All rights reserved.
"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NIV)
I wonder if the greatest witnessing tool available to us Christians is often pushed aside because of our busyness.
The other day I was focused on all the items on my seemingly never ending to do list. As I was sitting at a stoplight a friend called me and started lamenting that her son had forgotten his lunch and his belt required by the school's uniform policy. She was stressed and trying to get in touch with her husband who'd just dropped her son off at school. She was at home with a new baby feeling groggy from a sleepless night and overwhelmed by her situation.
Her son could probably get his friends to share their lunches with him. But, the belt would be a problem. The school would call her when they noticed the missing belt and require her to bring one. She lives over 20 minutes from the school.
As I sat at the stoplight listening to my friend, I looked to the store off to my right. That store has belts. That store has lunch food. I was faced with a decision. Could I help? Well, I could but my schedule would have to be rearranged a bit. Would I help? My friend wasn't asking but in that moment I knew it would be a tremendous blessing for her.
This day I wouldn't let my busyness take precedence over the blessing of divine interruptions and opportunities to love. So, I helped.
I don't know this for sure but I suspect my friend had been asking Jesus to please help her. It's hard being up half the night with a sleepless baby. It's hard to find a new normal when life gets a little off kilter by changes in the family dynamic. It's hard when you need help but feel like everyone is so busy you hate to bother them.
Now, I'll admit, I'm a task-oriented person so it doesn't come naturally for me to look for ways to be interrupted in the midst of my busyness. But sitting at that stoplight, I realized the power of pausing. Pausing just long enough for Jesus to tap on the edge of my heart and say, "Could you? Would you? Do this as if it's the most important part of your day and not an unwelcome interruption."
The Bible teaches one of the most important precepts is love. When we love others we are living the message of Jesus. And listen to what Psalm 19:8 says, "The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes."
Oh how many times have I missed the joy of pausing to live and love and light the world for Jesus?
Dear Lord, help me to pause today and remember my great witnessing tool is to simply be available to love others. Show me where I can love. Make me courageous enough to step aside my carefully planned to do list and look for ways to be an answer to the prayers someone has prayed today. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Related Resources:
Visit Lysa’s blog for a fun contest to win a gift for you and one to share with a friend!
Becoming More Than a Good Bible Study Girl by Lysa TerKeurst
What Happens When Women Walk in Faith by Lysa TerKeurst
Application Steps:
Spend some time praying about an opportunity to be interrupted today. Remember when the interruptions come…connect them with the prayer you prayed and enjoy your experience of God.
Reflections:
Is there anyone in my life that is currently going through some changes where I could practically lend a hand?
How can I create some more white space in my life to make myself more available to help others?
Power Verses:
Deuteronomy 15:7-8, "If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother. Rather be openhanded and freely lend him whatever he needs." (NIV)
Psalm 19:8, "The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes." (NIV)
© 2009 by Lysa TerKeurst. All rights reserved.
Labels: Friendships, God's Perspective, Parenting, Relationships, Serving, Spiritual Growth, Time with God, Trusting God
12 Comments:
Dear Lysa, yes its true, sometimes we become so overwhelm with our own things of life, that we often forget those who truly need our help. Today was a very good message for me & thanks for sharring. I need to start asking the Lord, who may I help & focus truly again on those who may not have the patience I learned to have. We must give on to others as he (Lord) gives to us. Thank You Again, A Mothers Heart
"Do this as if it's the most important part of your day and not an unwelcome interruption." I think this is the key for me. I can often be persuaded to help in situations like this, but I will then usually be frustrated by how it messed up the rest of my day. Thanks for this reminder.
Jesus "welcomed the inturruptions" and I often think of this verse when I cringe at the knock on the door or answer the phone and wish I hadn't or am asked to do something that will clearly set the course of my day off! But to your message today I say, "Amen." It is love that matters and is really the easiest thing to do once we put aside our agendas, schedules and plans..and the greatest joy is really found in fulfilling the needs of others by loving in the moment.
Thank you so very much for today's devotional. God used it at the very core of my heart. God bless you and your ministry.
This happened to me today. I had my day planned and my daughter-in-law called (same situation as in the message, new baby and 3 other children, she was overwhelmed. Yes, I said I would be over as soon as my dryer finished. Thank you for this message. Sometimes I forget that the Lord may have something for me to do and I don't fit it in because of MY schedule.
Thanks for today's devotion, it just confirmed to me that I'm listening to the Lord! Thank yoU!
Thank you for sharing last week i went to visit a family member and being on my lunch hour i was pressed for time she ask me for something simple and wasn't expected until i got off work i feel God's spirit nudge me to it know i new i would be late getting back but i made the decision to go and get it and bring back for her to enjoy at her lunch, today we are laying her at rest. talking about being sensitive to the holy spirit i am so glad i did what was layed on my heart. we must all slow down and reliaze time waits on no one but how are we using our time. thanks again for the encouragement and strenght.
Just last night, I was presented with the opportunity to say yes or no to Jesus, as I was asked by someone if they could call me ANYTIME they needed to talk. To me, it was the same as Jesus asking, "will you please get up and pray if I wake you up at 3:00am?" My heart will ALWAYS say yes, my flesh says "And have my sleep interrupted? No way!" The Spirit is willing but the flesh is weak...thank you for the extra nudge today. I needed it.
Wow, found a lot of interruptions today, lol, and the best part was being ready and happy about them! What a great perspective! I am such a schedule person and introvert to boot so this is important. Over and over Christ asks me to love and make people my ministry despite myself and this is just another reminder!
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This devotion was right on the mark. When I am soooo busy I am trying to remember to pray ( and to pray with my 12 yr old son) that we "be Jesus" to someone today. Your devotion was great and reminds me to listen when Jesus gives me the opportunity to show his love in tangible ways!!!
I want to share this with you....I have a friend that I told about this website. In fact, I told her on Wednesday November 11, about how much I enjoy it, and love taking just 5 minutes to read this devotion each day, even though I was busy killing myself to make items for a craft show, working 15-20 hours a day. On Thursday, Nov 12, the day this was posted, she read this devotion, but I didn't. I had had only 3 hours of sleep, and was trying to get everything together for the show, plus pack, and I needed another Christmas tree for displaying my ornaments. There was just no way I could spend the time to go get one. I was already 2 hours behind schedule. I started praying for help. I spoke to my friend, and she not only offered to lend me a couple of trees, she offered to bring them to me, even though she was busy herself. This may not sound like much, but I told her it was an answer to prayer. I felt much like that exhausted new mother you mentioned and she saw the opportunity to give of herself to me. After I told her what an answer to prayer that was, she said "well, I checked out that website you told me, and guess what the devotion was about today?" So, thank you, once again for your timely message!! Lorraine
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