This morning when I sat down with God for a cup of coffee and a chat, a most amazing thing happened. I took out my daily prayer list and before I could utter the first name, I found myself saying:
“Lord, give me the strength and energy I’m going need today. Also, I claim all the blessings you have for me today.”
It was almost like if He were physically present, He would’ve put a hand on my arm and said, “First things first.”
Lately I have been depleting my energy by being consumed in my prayer time and in my general “all day thinking time” with the needs of so many others. Today God stopped me. He made me realize that if I’m to continue to have the energy to pray and serve, I must pray for myself first.
I tried to protest, as we women will always do, because the needs of others just come first naturally with us. He was having none of it. I honestly couldn’t slip into my petitions for others until I spent a serious moment addressing my own needs.
I remembered my classroom days and the advice I always gave to my teacher daughter and my student teachers. Oh yes, how could I forget? I always told them to come to school well-fed, rested, and dressed comfortably (especially shoes) because once those kids pounded through the door, you didn’t exist until 3 pm. When juggling 25 young ones, you can’t be hungry, sick, uncomfortable or worried about how your hair looks. You have to first do a good job on yourself in order to do a good job on them. How could I have forgotten? It’s only been three years.
Praying for yourself first is not selfish. It is the one area where in order to do good for others, we MUST be self-serving. When I finished my prayer time there was a little zing in my step as I left my chair to prepare for a week of holiday guests.
And so, as another day goes by, you can’t beat morning coffee with God, pray for yourself first today, then treat yourself well, and…I have written.
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