Lately I have tried to be more intentional with my time. I am "working" regular hours during the day. We have friends to meet and visit with. We have groceries to shop for and bills to pay. Bella is starting obedience training once a week. I am connecting and getting involved with the worship team at church. Time is starting to become more and more precious than it was a few months or even weeks ago. The first thing to fall to the wayside was prayer time, and then bible time and then both. So in the past week and half I have intentionally set aside thirty or forty minutes before I start my work for the day to pray, read, reflect and worship.
Worship is so important to me and I could talk about it for days but today I just wanted to share how important it is to just BE. Sometimes I am not exactly sure what to pray or what I should turn to and read, but the Lord always knows what I need in every moment. This morning my time consisted of listening to songs, singing along, letting my heart be stirred, crying sometimes and receiving what He had for me. Sometimes we as christians become very comfortable with our routine, how we praise, how we worship--- and we need to get intentional with our time. We need to sit down and say "God, I am not getting up from this spot until I meet with you today, until I feel your presence come flooding in".
This is one of the songs that as of late has stirred me up the most, I hope you enjoy it and take some time to be intentional, to get a little uncomfortable and to just BE.
"you are always good. always good. always good. Where you go I go, what you say I say God, what you pray I pray, what you pray I pray....Where you go I go, what you say I say God, what you pray I pray. What you pray I pray...."
"you are always good. always good. always good. Where you go I go, what you say I say God, what you pray I pray, what you pray I pray....Where you go I go, what you say I say God, what you pray I pray. What you pray I pray...."
Over & Out,
A
I can completely relate. So often time slips away from me & as my head hits my pillow I mentally kick myself for forgetting my devotional, my one-on-one time with the Lord, and my time to praise and worship Him. Lately it seems to be harder and harder to prioritize my time and make sure I allot time for me & God AND me & Justin.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing, Ashley!
aHeapeofLove.com/
Beautiful Post! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteBoy, did this post hit me! About 4-5 weeks ago B was asked to be a deacon in our church! Talk about a huge change & responsibility. I had a hard time with it at first. I know that may sound bad! I support him no matter what though. He will be the youngest deacon in our church right now! Talk about even more pressure, ha! He gets ordained this Sunday night. He is so nervous! Pray for him please :) I hate I can't listen to the video at work!! :( Ok, I'm done writing my book! ha!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing. Sometimes to be still and know he is God is all he wants. :)
ReplyDeleteI adore this song. Such a beautiful song of worship and truth.
ReplyDeleteBEING has been the season of my life recently. It is SO hard for me because I am such a DOer. God has really had to be patient with me as I try to figure out what just BEING looks like for me. I've always tried to do the "right" devotional for the "right" amount of time, and say the "right" words..so it's incredibly hard when God calls me to just sit and BE.
Thanks for this post. So great and encouraging! Praying for you as you BE.
Thanks for this sweet reminder. I have been letting my quiet times go lately too, and can feel myself suffering from it. Your post made me remember how much better I felt when I start my day with my Lord. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI've been trying to refocus in that area as well. Thanks so much for sharing. I love hearing how other people use their worship time and learning new tips and tricks!
ReplyDeleteoh, gosh. love what you said. it is SO important to be intentional with our time, especially our time with the lord. and this song? one of my all-time favorites. we sang it in church a few weeks ago, and it brought me to tears. worship is absolutely the best! :)
ReplyDeleteI am so glad that you posted this today :) I completely agree, there is something about just BEING with the Lord that is so special. Sometimes the most meaningful time that I spend with the Lord isn't spent in the Word, or spent singing a worship song, or at church. All of that time is amazing and so special, but sometimes what I just need is to sit in silence and feel God. Feel Him and just try to imagine how much He loves me. It overwhelms in the best possible way.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this post, I needed that reminder today...to stop and revere in His glory
ReplyDeleteSarah
sweetnessoflaughter.blogspot.com
I needed this today. I have been struggling with all of the distractions life has so offer. Like you, I'm starting my own photography business in VA and it's so easy to get distracted with devoting time to that. I need to also be more intentional with my time and say "I'm going to put away lightroom for the next 30 min and spend them with you." Thank you for the reminder :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the challenge :) I needed it today! Have a wonderful Tuesday :) XO
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reminder! I made the same commitment when I started blogging, to put quiet time first. Sometimes life just happens and then I find myself forgetting too.
ReplyDeleteThis is just what I needed today. I appreciate the heartfelt post and being led by God to share it with others.
{I love Jesus Culture.}
thisbeautifullifeblog.blogspot.com
This was exactly what I needed to hear today. We've been in the process of moving and starting a new life in a new city (which I'm sure you can relate to!) and I have really gotten away from reading my Bible and praying regularly. Just last night, I decided that I was going to get BACK into the swing, like I ought to have been all along. This was PERFECT. Thanks for sharing your heart. :)
ReplyDeleteYou're so right. I needed to read this. And it's good to know that other girls go through it too.
ReplyDeleteAmen! You are so right about being intentional about prayer and time with God. Love that song. :)
ReplyDeleteSuch a great song. You're right- the Lord always meets us right where we are, and it's important to set aside the time to give to him!
ReplyDeleteOh, Ashley, I'm thinking we can never be too intentional in our time in with the Lord. And, it's usually the first thing we push aside when life gets busy. What a shame! I have an appointment with Him each morning at 5:30 and when I miss my appointment, I miss the most important part of my day. Great post and thanks for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteJust the reminder my heart needed today! Thanks for sharing my friend! Sally xoxo
ReplyDeletecuppacoffeeconfessions.blogspot.com
Thank you for this post. I have been going through a lot and I just need to turn to Jesus.
ReplyDeletedefinitely something i need to be doing...
ReplyDeleteI not really one who is into religion, however i do try to visit and a talk to my grandfather at the cemetery. I don't know if that counts. It does offer me a sense of relaxation and peace.
ReplyDeleteOh thank you so much for this post!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great and beautiful reminder. I am feeling what you are feeling to and just remembering to just BE a child of God and sit in His presence.
I adore this song and Jesus Culture so much, makes me miss my home church even more.
My hubby and I were attending Bethel church (where Jesus Culture comes from) and then moved to Alabama because we felt the Lord lead us. This song still feels up my heart with peace because it was our cry at the time.
Thank you!
Beautiful post girl. A heart that listen to God. That is what He loves. Thanks for reminding me to slow down and be still. Busyness is the work of the devil. Distractions make us forget to just slow down and worship Him. Thanks for this post. I love it!
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