Today is Friday With Friends! Each Friday for the next few months, I’m going to introduce you to some of my favorite writers. Each has their own style, and all are worth your read.
Today… Ms. Heatherly Sylvia. She’s from Boston, she snorts when she laughs and she loves… big. Enjoy!
The REALity is…
It takes me forever to get into a routine, and then, once something bumps me out of that routine- a vacation, illness, major life change- it takes me forever to get back into the routine.
In the last year this has applied to work habits, cleaning habits, eating habits, weight loss, goals, relationships. *Sigh*
Can I be even more real with you?
Most of the time I don’t WANT to get back into those routines. I get stuck, and it’s easier to just stay there. As Lysa TerKuerst says in her book, Made to Crave, I have my “how to,” but I am missing my “want to.”
I wonder how many others of you are with me on this:
You’d rather:
sleep in…
eat the whole bag…
ignore the problem…
make excuses…
shift the blame…
The problem is with all of my “I’d rather’s.”
I know that the same verse I claim on my journey to joy, also applies to my daily “to-do” list.
Philippians 4:8 (NIV, 1984), says, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
My excuses don’t hold water, because they are not the TRUTH of who I am, or who I’ve been called to be. If I even bother to try to measure my very human list to the words of these Ancient Words, they crumble.
But can I be honest again?
This is exhausting… IF I do it in my own strength.
I’ve been guilty many times of trying to do great things the wrong way…. Heatherly’s way, in Heatherly’s strength.
No wonder I lose my “want to!”
And so I pray,
“Abba, I want what You want. I am grateful that I serve a God that is involved in His children’s lives, that You want the best for me, for my family, for my life, for my time. You planted the dreams I have in my heart. You have a plan to bring them to fruition in Your time. Please forgive me for getting ahead of You, for trying to do the things You’ve called me to do in my own way, in my own timing, with my own strength. I fully recognize that my gifts, talents, strengths and weaknesses were all designed by You to be used BY YOU through me. Please give me the humility and the wisdom to know when I’ve started to do things my way instead of Yours. Please bless me with the WANT TO to do it Your way, and not my own. Thank You that You want this for me even more than I do. I am forever grateful to be Yours and to be used by You… miserable, moody sinner that I am. Thank You for helping me find the path to joy- to real life in You, through You.”
And all the “stuck” said…
Amen.
†††
Heatherly Lane Sylvia is a mom, wife, homeschooler, speaker, aspiring writer, and apprentice grace-giver. Her greatest desire is to live a life following after God with abandon, and she hopes to be a blessing to as many people as she can while she figures out exactly how to do that. Het is passionate, loud, addicted to books, and loves her friends, old and new. She adores the blogosphere and would love to “meet” you there. She’s also pretty sure that blog comments and tweets are her love language. Check out her blog A Pinkdaisy Life or follow her on Twitter @Pinkdaisyjane
Amen, sister! I know just how to get into routines, but it’s so easy to fall out of them. And then so much work to build them up again. Thank you for the honesty and encouragement!
Oh, honey! Did this ever speak to me! I get so tired because I fall into the pattern of trying to do it in my own strength. Praying for more “let go and let God” in my life. Praying for you, too!
Heatherly,
You have NO idea how much I needed this today. I’m lacking the major ‘want to’ with something and just want to get ahead of God. Thank you, sister, for speaking His truth with such grace and honesty. Beautifully said!
Amen! I get so stuck in the ‘i’d rather,’ and once i’m there, it’s difficult to break out. I know it’s because I try to do it in my own strength. Thanks for the encouragement to give the ‘id rather’ to God & move on.
I really enjoyed reading this post!
Wonderful post Heatherly! I hear you loud and clear. There are things I want to change. I get frustrated because sometimes I don’t know how to or I don’t want to. Thank you for the reminder to turn it all over to the ONE who can help us know how to and want to!
In His Calm,
Mary
So true sweet girl. Loved it! Thank you for the reminder!
Yes – stuck I’ve been! Working on that at present. Great reminder to work on the “want to” –His way! Thanks, Heather.
Thank you all for your encouraging words. Grateful He can use even our struggles to bless others and encourage our trust in Him. xo
Heatherly, love this – so authentic. You took the words right out of my mouth…now if you could have just taken the food with it…
So true, and I am so relating to everything you said! Amen, girl =) Thank you for being REAL and sharing your heart!
Shannon and Rebekah- Thank you! Glad I’m not the only one!
Thanks for keeping it real, friend. Real is always an encouragement. XOXO
Heatherly, Love this post – the Lord always uses you so well! 🙂
Thanks, Het!