Wishing and Dreaming

First let me be clear about one thing. This is NOT my stovetop in my kitchen. For several reasons:
(1.) I don’t drink milk. And if I did, it would never be that large an amount, or in that cute of a jar.
(2.) I find stovetop kettles obnoxious, as I am never anywhere nearby when they go off, and I get so startled when they start screaming, so I don’t own one.
(3.) I think that’s cheesecloth next to the stovetop, which I don’t own. For my purposes it looks like a stack of napkins. Okay?

Say it with me: “That is a stack of napkins.”

If you didn’t just say that with me, you’re my kind of people.

Anyway…This morning as I was making breakfast, I noticed the paper towel I was using as a napkin (because I’m fancy like that) got very close to the burner. Now, I DO have a flat top induction burner similar to the one in the photo. And I thought “Whew! That’s one reason to be thankful I don’t have a gas stove! That thing could’ve caught on fire!”

Usually I lament the fact that I had to leave my gas stove in Zambia. I love cooking with gas. And I love making the statement “Now we’re cooking with gas!!” while doing the twist and waving my spatula in the air like a weird ’80s movie dad at a summer barbecue. (Which makes my kids cringe. Anyone have an equally cringe-inducing apron I could buy?)

And then I started thinking, ‘Well, I really DO wish I had a gas stove…’ And then several other thoughts popped into my head about things I wish were different/better about my house. And then my body. And then my life in general.

Isn’t it easy to do that? To make a laundry list (…why is it called that? What exactly is supposed to go on one of those, anyway?) of things we would love to change about our house, our car, our body, our marriage…we could come up with a lot of things in a moment, it seems.

If a person asked you: “If money was no object, what would you change about your house? Your car? Your body? Your life?” Do you have a list written down that you could pull out of your purse, pocket, or fanny pack to show them? Or would you just tell them all the things you’ve been dreaming about? I could come up with some things for sure.

But that is just dreaming. Because we all know that money IS an object. At least it is for me. And it’s easier to dream about things I wish to change than it is to scrape together money to make the changes I dream of making.

But when someone asks “What would you change about your spiritual life?” We paste on a big fake smile, and say “Nothing. It’s fine!” or we shrug and say “I don’t know. I never thought about it.” or we scowl and say “NoYB. That’s between me and God.”

My tendency is to want my physical possessions to be better than what I currently have. Nothing, I repeat NOTHING in my home is dangerous, or non-functioning. (Well, our fridge water dispenser is slower than molasses…) Nothing in my body isn’t working properly. Nothing in my marriage is ‘wrong’. It’s all ‘fine’. But sometimes I desire all of these things to be “better”. Why?

Because these are the things other people can see. These are the things I think people judge me by. These are the things that I can look at and compare to other people’s things.

Yikes.

Suppose I said to you “If time was no object, how would you change your spiritual life?” What would you say? Do you have a list of things ready? Have you ever even thought about it?

The thing is, unlike money, time isn’t always an object that prevents us from drawing closer to the Lord. I’m not saying we all have the same 24 hours. I know everyone has different responsibilities and requirements in their lives. I don’t mean we all have the same 24 hours, because I know that’s not true.

But we do all make choices every day. When I have ‘free time’ how do I choose to spend it? Do I binge watch a show, while in the back of my mind suppress the nudge to go pray? Do I spend hours looking at all the different social media outlets or news programs on my phone, while wishing I had more time for the Word of God? Do I dream of being used to be a blessing, but am not really willing to throw on my boots to go anywhere or do anything that requires time and effort on my part?

Wishing and dreaming do not change my spiritual barometer. Good intentions in my mind do not make for actual change in my actual life.

If I want things to be different, then I need to do things differently.

Isn’t that deep?

DO is an action word. It requires me to put feet to faith. To make the choice to spend my ‘free time’ more wisely. To determine that when I am tired and haven’t had time in the Word, that I will choose it first before other things I think will make me feel better or relaxed. I find that time spent in the Word of God and prayer does refresh me in ways that my favorite [fill in the blank] just can’t. It permeates and satisfies my needs in a much deeper way than anything else can.

With my word of the year being PURPOSE, I have been changing my thinking. I am purposing to focus on improving my relationship with God. Not because of anyone else, but because…GOD. He is so worthy of me desiring to do better for Him. To spend more time with Him. To pray more often and more fervently. To make changes that will last.

It doesn’t have to happen all at once, either. We’re all works in progress. If you find yourself mindlessly scrolling through facebook or instagram, stop and pray for the people whose profiles you’ve recently seen. Then put your phone down and pray for your family. Pray for your church. Pray for your neighbors. Confess your sin and pray for your own life. And Praise the Lord. A lot.

If you’re binge watching a show, but haven’t been in the Word, when you get up for a bathroom break, don’t head back to the tv. Go somewhere else and read the Word. Ask the Lord to focus your mind and speak to you. He always will.

If you take public transportation, instead of scrolling social media while you travel, work on memory verses. How many can you memorize in a year if you change that one thing?

Or maybe you’re a ‘big dramatic change’ kind of person. In that case, delete apps from your phone that distract you, set yourself a time limit on the internet per day and be strict about following it, stop paying for streaming services that give you too many options to waste time, and instead dive into the Word of God and His presence.

Either way, you’ll see a difference when you commit to doing things differently.

So let me ask you: if you could change anything about your spiritual life what would it be, and why?

And, how do you plan on implementing this?

Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: (Hebrews 10:22-24)

Matthew 6:19-21
(19) Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
(20) But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
(21) For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Revelation 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

Romans 12:1-2
(1) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
(2) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.