Hello Sunday peeps!
I hope you’re having a fantastic weekend so far and that you’re RESTING! After last Sunday’s post on being created to rest, I was so excited to hear that it resonated with so many of you.
And, it also makes me feel “normal” to know that it’s not something that I struggle with alone. ?
Today, I want to talk about what I call “Jesus guilt.” Do any of these thoughts sound familiar:
“Ugh. I am SO exhausted after today and I still haven’t done my devotional. But I HAVE to get in my Bible time.”
“I still have so much to do today, and I don’t think I’m going to get it done, especially if I HAVE to do my devotionals.”
“I HAVE to read my Bible first thing in the morning, before I do anything else. It’s what ‘good’ Christians do.”
These past few weeks have been really busy for me and, although I am not proud to admit it, these thoughts have flittered around my brain.
Not that I don’t love my devotional time – I do. But, there are days when it feels forced or when I end up doing it, only to finish and realize that I literally have no idea what I read, because my brain was totally elsewhere.
And, that is NOT the kind of time that Jesus wants from us. And, DEFINITELY not the kind of time that He deserves.
My main struggle lately has been feeling like I have to read the Bible every morning. I have been doing the First 5 App for awhile now and, at first, I loved it. But, lately, it’s felt sort of like a chore. But, I always hear that spending time in the Word is what Christians do in the morning, so I’ve kept trucking along.
However, this past week, I just realized I was getting ZERO things out of it, so I tried a new approach that – GASP – doesn’t include actually READING the Bible.
I get up, make my coffee and turn on a Christian station on Pandora. Then, I just sit on my couch (still before doing work, checking social media etc) close my eyes, listen to the music and sing it (sometimes out loud, sometimes in my soul) and sip on coffee and really focus on the words. Usually, I’m praying along with it.
I only do this for 2 or 3 songs, which is about 10 minutes (we all have 10 minutes in the mornings) but it’s been SO rejuvenating. Plus, it really helps me focus in on my thoughts and try to change them when they start going to something else. Worship in song has always been something that has really spoken to me, so this has been such a peaceful way to start the day.
At first, I felt “Jesus guilt” because it wasn’t the “right thing.” But, you know what? At least right now, it’s the “right thing” for me and MY relationship with God. He understands that everyone is different, and we need to allow ourselves to be okay with that. He also understands that we are busy and, if we take an entire day off, He still loves us. WE are the ones that put the “Jesus guilt” on ourselves. So, really, I should call it”Silly ME guilt”
Of course, if you’re “too busy” to spend time with Him (in WHATEVER way makes you take steps forward in your walk) ALL the time, you may need to reevaluate your schedule and priorities. But, a day or two? You’re fine. He loves you. He understands.
Let’s ban the Jesus guilt and allow ourselves to try new things, breaking the feeling of obligation. You never know what branching out could do to your relationship with our God.
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