What a day I had when I made the decision to leave the house without praying!
What? Courtney didn’t pray before she left the house?!?!?!
I am human just like everyone else and I fall short quite often. On this particular day, praying wasn’t just about my regular routine. I could literally here God speaking to me, saying “Courtney you need to pray” and my response was “later God, I’m running late”. If we were face to face, I’d imagine God shaking His head at me but what I am grateful for is that he would never say “I told you so”.
As soon as I got on the interstate, I was faced with many frustrations. As soon as I walked in my office there came more frustration. The frustration continued on everywhere I went until I ended my work day around 2PM. On the drive home I called one of my friends and I expressed to her that I couldn’t even be upset about all the things that I faced, I knew better! I left the house without my armor and my crown was slipping with every moment of frustration!
I had to apologize to God, how dare I make the conscious decision to be disobedient? How dare I put his clear instruction on the backburner just because I was running late? The more I confessed to my friend about my disobedience and being upset with myself, I was reminded of a time when three disciples fell asleep when they were instructed to keep watch while Jesus prayed. Let’s go on a quick bible lesson.
The night that Jesus was arrested, he led three of His disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane and requested that they keep watch with Him as He prayed. When He returned He found them sleeping. He asked a simple question: “could you not keep watch with me for an hour”? He went on to say “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41 NIV).
The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.
It is important to stay armored up. If there is any crack in our armor the enemy can creep in and do as he pleases. However, on this particular day God still got the glory because I accepted correction from Him, I confessed, I repented, I prayed, and my day got better!
For us friend, I pray that we continue to grow closer to God, so that we will be willing to acknowledge our faults and be open to conviction. I pray that we give others and ourselves the same grace that we expect God and others to give us. I pray that we learn to stay ready so we don’t have to get ready.
With love,
Courtney Arlesia