I put the microwave on three minutes so I could heat the water in my teacup and enjoy my favorite warm beverage before heading out the door.
As the minutes dwindled down to seconds, I peered through the transparent tinted window and noticed that the microwave was empty. That’s when my thirteen year old daughter Kyla and I locked eyes and burst into laughter
I just shook my head, slid my cup off the countertop, and slipped it into the microwave. I was sure of it that time!
“Mommy needs to slow down,” I told my giggly teen. I could tell from her continuous chuckles that she really got a kick out of my little mishap.
When I get in a hurry, I tend to overlook things. I can’t find my keys, cell phone, or a shoe I just had. Sometimes I can’t even remember what I’m looking to find. That’s when it really gets pitiful. I’ll be standing there in the middle of the floor, scratching my head, asking myself aloud, “What was I looking for?”
That’s why I don’t like for my schedule to get too crazy. When one thing happens right after the other, with little to no time in between, I get frazzled. Things stop making sense. I can’t gather my thoughts. And I turn on the microwave to heat things that aren’t actually there.
Though I did eventually enjoy my cup of tea, I ended up being all out of sorts.
My time is so important. And with all the things I have to do throughout the course of a day, I have to value and honor it. But yesterday, I squeezed something in I should have said no to. I had things set perfectly until I veered off my set path.
That’s when the trouble started.
This certainly applies to our spiritual walk with God. When he lays things out for us a certain way, we have to follow Him to a tee. We can’t veer to the left or right. When we do, we create issues, barriers, and struggles for ourselves unnecessarily.
We all have a lane and we need to stay in it. We each have boundaries and we need to dwell within them. Everyone has limitations and we need to know what they are, so we won’t drown in waters too deep for us to swim.
After my laugh-worthy incident yesterday I realized anew how critical discipline truly is! When we don’t dwell within the all-important boundaries that govern our lives, our actions create consequences and manifestations that can take years to overcome. We can’t live our lives aimlessly and simply go with the flow. We have to walk a specific path in order to end up where God wants us to go.
So today, to reinforce this point—first to myself and then to you—I’m stirring 1 Corinthians 9:26-27 NIV into this cup of inspiration. It says, “Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”
When you drink down the contents of your cup today, you’ll be joining me in bringing everything under subjection. You’ll be reminded that our schedules, finances, relationships, health, professional pursuits, and all other areas, must be submitted to God’s plan for our lives.
You and I cannot be used by Him if we are undisciplined ourselves.
And let the church say amen!
When we are disciplined, God can lead us in the direction He would have us go, for our lives are not our own.
They belong to God.
Now let’s pray.
God, thank You for this reminder to always remain disciplined and submitted to Your will. When distractions come to pull me off purpose, help me say no to the diversions so I can say Yes to You, oh God. Thank You for giving me the wisdom, strength, and courage to reject whatever hinders me from staying the course You have set for me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
As always, thanks for reading and until next time... may today's cup of inspiration uplift, encourage, and empower you!
