Being content with the mundane everyday life of a working mom can be difficult. The shuffling of schedules so, you do not miss the awards ceremony or baseball games. The juggling of life’s priorities so you can get in your workout and do not miss out on the laughter and love. The drive to succeed mixed with the fear of missing out on life’s tiny blessings.
The daily struggle has not gotten easier however; my daily prayers have changed. My heart no longer strives for perfection but instead longs to have significance in the midst of the chaos.
My heart desires to build community and support. My heart longs to laugh more and yell less. My heart desires to give grace and forgiveness like it is my last day.
So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. Romans 12:1-2 The Message
I want my everyday ordinary life to have significance in the eternal realm. I want my interactions with my friends, neighbors, family and strangers to be life-giving and not depleting. I want my words to build up and not tear down. I want His light to shine through my life.
So, when I heard this prayer from Amy Grant that she shared at the White House Easter Prayer Breakfast I just knew I had to write it down and share it with you.
God lead me today to those I need and to those who need me. Help what I do today have eternal significance.
That is my prayer for everyday!
I want my life to intersect with those who need to be loved and encouraged. I want my life to intersect with those who will support and encourage me. I want the way I live my life to have eternal significance. I do not want to be numb and self-defeating. I do not want to be selfish and self-absorbed. I do want my life to be marked with His love, grace and forgiveness.
Yes, we do need to find contentment in life but not the kind of contentment that allows us to be okay with the mundane existence this world has become comfortable with… Let us find contentment in learning to love and give grace to ourselves and to others. Let us learn to be content with denying ourselves of anything that numbs and steals our joy. Let us find contentment in playing with our kids instead of living in a spotless house. Let us be okay with setting aside time to have coffee with a friend who needs encouragement. Let us be okay with loving others as Christ has loves us.
This my prayer for everyday!
Father God let Your light shine through me. Show me who to love and encourage. Help me to let go of my ideas of perfection. Lead me and guide me to love, give grave and forgiveness. This day is Yours, amen!
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