After a crazy week at home full of gardening, baking, a tea party, music prep, and trip to Alabama, today I tried to take a sort of Sabbath until sundown. I could tell first of all that my body was tired, but that I also was spiritually dry, feeling anxious over things needing to be accomplished, but also lacking motivation to tackle anything whatsoever. Ever been there?

I enjoyed some time journaling, opening the windows to listen to the birds chirp outside, and reading my Bible. I enjoyed cooking my husband dinner and making a dessert to share with friends later in the week. I worked on a song for a little while and got stuck on some lyrics, may go back to it later. Now I'm sitting down to debrief and "chat" with you all via blogging. :)

What do we do when we feel our feet dragging and our heart waning? What do we do when we’ve been busy for so long that we forget what to do with ourselves when life finally slows down?

I know I tend to try “practical” things first – take a nap, go for a walk, clean house, clean out my closet, sit in the sun, watch a movie, call a friend, go shopping, bake a cake or some cookies to share with family/friends, look for new recipes to try, hop on Facebook, etc. Now some of those things are decent options, even good and healthy ones. They seem innocent enough on a Saturday afternoon. But for me, when a typical Monday arrives and I feel like a sense of purpose in my day is so terribly difficult to find - and when I try them all and am still left feeling restless, discouraged, or anxious - I am reminded that God offers us so much more than we can find in the things of this world.

These verses from Hebrews really ministered to me today:

"Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how He did it. Because He never lost sight of where He was headed - that exhilerating finish in and with God - he could put up with anything along the way: the Cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!" (Hebrews 12:2-3, The Message)

I’m sure you have experienced this as well, but usually as I spend time in worship and/or reading His word, remembering the story of Jesus, I feel my soul washed over by the Spirit of God. Suddenly, the “junk” I’ve been holding onto seems to be washed away. As I study how Christ lived His life, I am encouraged to persevere, to endure, and to believe that He will provide me with the grace I need to “put up with anything along the way.” And not only that – but that He will also help me not lose sight of where I’m headed, and give me a purpose in each day if I will allow Him to show me what that is.

Why don’t I come to Him more often, when I first feel the signs? Oh how the enemy loves to cause us to forget the faithfulness of our God. And faithful He is! God patiently waits for us to call upon His name. He is our help, our rescue, our very life. He longs to be the purpose for our every breath, our reason to rise joyfully each morning, and our reason to rest peacefully each night.

May God help us keep our eyes on Jesus that we might keep running the race, never lose sight of where we’re headed, and put up with anything we face today!