An Earthly Challenge for a Heavenly Reward

Let's be honest.  Brutally honest.


There are days that go by and I don't open my Bible.  Some days there are hours that pass after I wake up before I speak to my Savior.  There have been times that I've told someone I will pray for them and never think about their situation again.  There are moments that my life resembles anything but a Christ-follower.


What am I doing during those days, hours, moments???  I am partaking in mindless activity...Facebooking, reading emails, watching TV...you know, all the stuff that keeps me too busy to find time to fellowship with my Jesus.  The ironic part of all of this is the fact that I don't put these things above my earthly relationships.  If my best friend calls, I drop what I am doing to answer the phone.  Why do I put more value on my earthly relationships than my relationship with the Holy Spirit?  Why do I plan more for my future on earth rather than my eternal life? 


Yesterday, we were issued a challenge in Sunday School.  Spend one entire week not watching TV.  What should we do with the time left on our hands?  Work on our relationship with the Holy Spirit.  I immediately accepted the challenge because I felt a tug on my heartstrings.  That's conviction.  That's the Holy Spirit. 


The TV has not been turned on in our house since before church yesterday.  What have I done instead?  Read my Bible.  Prayed.  Talked to my family more.  Meditated on our Sunday School lesson.  While the house may be quiet, my heart is full of endless chatter with my Savior.  I've managed to pour out my heart about a myriad of subjects.  And I've managed to turn my ear towards the still, small voice that I often ignore due to the noise of the television or any other distracting choice of media. 


My prayer this week is that this time without the distraction of the television will not only enhance my relationship with Jesus, but that my earthly relationships will reflect my time spent with the Him.  I pray that I can become a better wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend through the power of the Holy Spirit.


I stumbled upon a quote from Max Lucado that says, "God loves you just the way you are, but He refuses to leave you that way. He wants you to be just like Jesus. "


Genesis 1:27 tells us that we are created in the image of God.  For my life to be a reflection of anything other than Him is a pure disgrace.  I praise Him for refusing to let me stay the same.  I strive to honor Him by allowing Him to change me and for those changes to be reflected in my actions.


If you will, pray for me this week.  Pray that the Holy Spirit will move in a mighty way in my life.  Pray that my relationship with Him will be changed in a way that I will never be the same.