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There are times when laundry takes over my house. Piles build up, though I try to stay on top of them. Many of the clothes are clean and even folded, but not put away. That tricky put-away-part is always hard for me.
Then there are the socks.
Oh, the socks! They burden me so and cause me to wonder. Does an unseen sock nation exist? Are sock-soldiers are on a secret mission to destroy my testimony and drive me crazy? Divide and conquer. Thatās what they do! Why canāt socks just behave? Why canāt they ever stay in pairs, and where am I supposed to put the socks that remain unmatched? Sigh.
Unmatched socks and folded-but-not-put-away-laundry tie me up in knots. Sometimes days go by before I make the time to put them away. Is it just me?
Iāve come to realize that my days can be a lot like my laundry situation. At times they get piled up with busy. Sabbath gets squeezed out. Now, when I say Sabbath, I mean the priority of sitting before the Lord just to sit with Himā¦ quietlyā¦ expectantlyā¦ to listen… to be restored.
Though I do include God in my days and breathe prayers throughout, when I donāt sit before the Lord and exercise the spiritual discipline of being quiet before God it seems that both old and new burdens can tie my heart into a big frazzled knot.
It had been one of those weeks. Knots. Knots. Knots.
Then I finally remembered the power of quiet. I remembered My Restorer.
As I sat in the cool still of the morning with a hot mug of coffee in my hand and the warming presence of God in my soul, the burdens of my heart began to drift away. Direction came. Joy resounded. Mercy rained. Peaceā¦ deep peace fell.
The Spirit of God transformed my soul, my thoughts, my goals, and my day.
It was as if I had slumbered half the week away. This is where they go. This is where my burdens belong. The old ones that Iāve written about time and time again in my prayer journal and the new ones that are just beginning to unravel from my heart. This is where they go! I just needed to put my continuous stream of life-burdens away like the unending piles of laundry.
THEN: order, soul orderā¦ peace, compelling peaceā¦ joy, divine joy and restorationā¦ it all came.
I sat in wonder.
Still.
In His presence.
Convicted of my failure to remember the power of being quiet before the Lord. Of course this is where they go. I knew that. I knew that. Lord, forgive me. Oh, how Iām thankful for your daily mercy showers. I was met in my mess by the Lord my Restorer.
Each of us is invited to experience God as our Restorer. To know the renewal we long for each day. Jesus invited us personally when he said, āCome to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is lightā (Matthew 11:28-30).
When our lives get too busy ā when the laundry piles up in our homes and the burdens pile up in our hearts ā we often forget the power of quiet. The power of being still before God. The power of listening, expecting, soul-pouring ā¦ receiving rest from our Restorer. God’s presence sorts souls and never leaves an unmatched burden.
His presence never leaves an un-lifted burden.
How great is our God?
Take some time to power-down and be still before Him right now. Remember the power of quiet as you accept the renewal invitation of Jesus and exchange your burdens and knots for His peace and restoration.
Dear Lord,
Your mercy is fresh each day, and Your grace piles higher than all my laundry and all my heart-woes. Thank You, Lord! Iām here. Please align my heart to Yours. Quiet me with Your love, direction, and peace today.
In Jesusās Name I pray, Amen.
FOR YOUR REFLECTION:
When is the last time you sat and were still before God ā with no music playing, no TV on, etc.?
When we spend purposed time with the Lord, beautiful things happen. Look up Zephaniah 3:17 and fill in the blanks below:
āThe LORD your God is _______ _________, he is mighty to save. āØHe will take ___________ ______________in you,Ā he will _____________ you with his ______________, he will _____________ over you with ________________.ā
So much love to you! Muahhhh! š
GWEN
Todayās GiG devotion is adapted from Knowing God by Name by Sharon Jaynes, Gwen Smith, & Mary Southerland. This is the perfect book for individual study or for gathering a group of friends in what we call GiG Groups. With impactful devotions, study questions, journal pages, free on-line video intros, and this book is a resource youāll refer to time-and-time again.
Comments 46
Dear Lord,
Thank You for the power of being still and quiet before Your Throne.
You are Everything! Please, help us to always come to You First and to be renewed each day by Your precious Word. Help us to make You our very First-Thing Desire, Lord.
Also, please bless each Vacation Bible Study this summer, may every child who steps foot on a Christ-filled Church campus gladly receive Your salvation and be filled with a Your Holy Spirit, Lord.
In Jesusā Name,
Amen
Hi Gwen- I love the idea of a sabbath rest. Many years ago I wrote a blog about taking a sabbath by not doing laundry- it has given me perspective and made me appreciate when I can do it. I had an interesting comment from a missionary in that said they had sporadic power so she could only do laundry when the lights came on! Here’s the blog- http://pennynoyes.blogspot.com/2009/09/no-laundry-on-sundays.html
The missionary I referred to- actually had sporadic water- not power! Hard to do laundry without water.
I do believe socks have it in for use, and my washer is on the blink. Solution, buy them all the same color, they will always match and should one drift away into oblivion, disappear in the dryer, or get dragged under the bed by the dog. And quiet is practically my middle name now. I always had that quiet, peaceful, spirit, but others manage to disturb my peace. Now, God knows how to help me learn to care for myself and others.
Thanks so much for the reminder for taking moments to be still and quiet before the Lord! I get to accomplish 2 things when I take a prayer walk in my neighborhood…that quiet time and also excercise taking care of my temple. …I love the example of the laundry I can relat lolš
I’m in for the sabbath challenge. I’m short of words…I was reading an article few minutes back and I came across this blog. I’m so happy, I’ve been having difficulties observing a quiet time. this will really help, God brought me here for a reason. thanks so much
Zephania 3:17 is my life verse! Love it! I’m in on this challenge.
I’m in the Sabbath challenge
I’m in for the Sabbath challenge.
I’m in….The day often gets away from me, and I fall asleep before spending time with the Lord!
I’m in for the Sabbath Challenge! And, Gwen, I am a kindred spirit when it comes to laundry. I can wash & fold all day long; and, there it sits. “Just put it away!” I tell myself; but there it stays. You are not alone, girlfriend! Blessings.
The struggle is real, Gail! #laundryproblems š Glad you are in for the challenge.
Blessings!
Gwen
Iām in for the Sabbath Challenge! I came across that verse in Zephaniah just a few weeks ago and have taken to heart especially “He will quiet you with his love”. What a difference it can make!
Love that, Bec! What a difference, indeed! š Enjoy your Sabbath Challenge…
In Christ,
Gwen
I am in for the Sabath day challenge. Thank you
For bringing hope to my day.
Excellent! š
Perfect timing for me. āIām in for the Sabbath Challenge!ā I so need this right now.
I expect you will reap beautiful rewards, friend. š
Blessings,
Gwen
I am in for the challenge!!
I have had Zephaniah 3:17 posted on my bathroom mirror for 6 years now. I put it up when I needed a reminder that God is with me and He is all I need.
Yay! Love that.
Gwen
Thank you for this message, It is just what I needed ! it had been one of those weeks that has had me distracted- ! I am in for the Sabbath challenge !!
What version of the bible did you use for the fill in the blank verse Zephaniah 3:17?
“I am in for Sabbath Challenge”
I am in for the Sabbath challenge!!
Up for the challenge, in Jesus Name, the restorer and healer.
Amen
Perfect!
I’m in for the Sabbath challenge! š
Awesome!
i AM IN FOR THE SABBATH CHALLENGE, i NEED QUITE TIME WITH GOD.
WE GET TOO RAPPED UP IN OUR BUSY SCHEDULE, GOD FIND TIME FOR US, WE NEED TO …THANK YOU GWEN
Yay!
Thank you Gwen for the timely reminder. I have enjoyed some of that with the Summer Psalm adventure. It’s taken me a whole lot deeper in my prayers to God as it is teaching me to worship him as I pray. I’ve journaled a lot of my prayers and gotten answers to most of them already. Praise God. It’s teaching me to take that quiet time that I need. No I’m not finished it. I took liberty to go at my own pace. But this week has been early getting ready without the time for quiet. Pray that I can find the time I need and get the peace and restoration from God himself in quiet. I’m in for the Sabbath Challenge. Praise God for teaching me.
And yes there’s always a pile of laundry to put away, and more in my house.
SO great to hear of how the LORD is blessing you through His WORD and His presence. That’s what it’s all about, friend!
Perfect! I’m in for the Sabbath day challenge š
Yay!
Iām in for the Sabbath Challenge!
So great. š
Count me in for the Sabbath challenge. Looking forward to being blessed and hearing of others being blessed
It will be great!
Thank you for this message! I am in for the Sabbath day challenge!!!
Awesome. š
I am in for the Sabbath Day challenge!!!
Yay!
I love it! I have a basket full of un-matched socks and that has always been my pet peeve. My daughters tell me just give them back and then they wear them un-matched, which really drives me crazy.
I am in for the Sabbath Day Challenge! Starting Monday 23rd.
Oh. My. GLORY! Me tooooooo! Even wrote a Girlfriends in God devotion about that… check it out: http://www.girlfriendsingod.com/2012/whats-your-top-priority/
It’s not just you! (staring at folded not-put-away laundry and a pile of mismatched socks right now!)
I’m in for the Sabbath Challenge!
Yay and yay! š