This morning as I listened to David Jeremiah, he said:
Busyness is like an octopus on roller skates.
Lots of movement, but you never know what direction it’s going to take.
I laughed out loud. That presented quite a mental picture.
Over many years, I lived like that octopus. The busier I was, the more I thought I was accomplishing. Sometimes I did. Sometimes I used it as an escape. Sometimes it helped me feel like I was a better Christian.
My husband died in 2015. I retired in 2017. So that takes care of all that busyness. Right? Yet there were days I couldn’t imagine how I found time to go to work. Something was wrong with that picture. So these past years I’ve been purging. Not only my physical possessions, but my emotional ones too. I feel lighter and lighter (and weigh 30 pounds less).
And now a new year awaits. My desire for me is that I peel off another layer of understanding and become even closer to God. As I’ve pondered that, I have been made aware that I need to change my pattern of Bible reading. I long for those words to truly embed themselves into my heart.
I know that any time I need to remember something, I write it down. I keep a notepad and pen in every room. Once I see the words, I can remember. I’ve decided to try that with the Bible. This idea came to me by listening to David Jeremiah. Here’s my strategy. I’m going to pick a book of the Bible and write each verse as I read it. I’ll write in a book that lays flat so one page will be for my thoughts…the other page for my writing.
I’m actually excited about this. I believe it will create an atmosphere for the renewing of my mind. I will be compelled to dig deeper. And I will have to cease my busyness to accomplish this project. I will be following the instruction to “be still”.
“Be still, and know that I am God!…..” Psalm 46:10 (NLT)
