Is This Really Worship?

I truly got up this morning exhausted. My 42 year old bones were screaming at me to stay in the bed. But it is a day of worship and we will get there, one way or another. I just wish it wasn't always so hard. So I roll out of bed slowly and trudge downstairs. Kiss the boys that are up and turn the lights on, wonder what we are going to eat, hear my husband ask if he has a dress shirt ready (NO), wonder where I put the khaki pants that were on top of that pile of laundry in the den (I DON'T KNOW) - all while making coffee.

Breakfast somehow gets made and eaten, clothes are donned, everyone is clean if not wrinkle free and I am the one left upstairs trying madly to get dressed. I get in the car huffy. Not pleased. My mind is SO not set on things above. So much to confess before I take Communion. Ugh...

Sundays are hard days for me. Especially now in the middle of baseball season. We were at the park 6 1/2 hours yesterday. I didn't have the gumption to iron everything and get it all ready on Saturday. But quite honestly, it doesn't seem to matter how prepared I am - something always seems to happen to knock my attitude askew on Sunday mornings. How can I prevent this?

Deep breathing exercises? Yoga? Ha...kidding. I do need to find a way to keep that attitude appropriate. It is not a good example to be so sour on my way to church every Sunday. Something must be done.

Our children's minister said to me one time that Sunday mornings is spiritual warfare for parents. Satan doesn't want us to receive a blessing at church. He would love nothing more than for me to be sitting in the middle of wiggly children fuming over how hard my life is and how I can't focus because my children cannot find a comfortable position, or manage to drop their pen, then their Bible and poke me in the eye while trying to get little arms around my neck. But I bet it is difficult for most people, it's not just me - I hope. Whether we have kids or not...Satan can find anything for us to be focused on rather than worship.

So...how do we thwart his plan?

Colossians 3
1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

How do I do this? How do I not sweat the small stuff that is of this world? How do I put all these things to death? It overwhelms me just to think about it. Because of course - just like my housework - I want to do it ALL RIGHT NOW! No wonder I'm overwhelmed...

Colossians 3
12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

It looks like I am going to have to physically shake myself out of my funk. On Sunday mornings I am going to have to be intentional about getting up and "letting the peace of Christ rule within me". I will count my blessings. I will sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. I will proactively seek the face of God on Sunday mornings...doing my best to deal with whatever "fiery darts" Satan throws at me. I guess I will have to pull out the big guns and zing him with a verse or two.

Being prepared to fight the good fight is probably half the battle. And everything gets easier with practice...I will just practice my faith each Sunday, trusting that in time, it WILL become my first nature...NOT my second nature.

Afterall...I have what I need.

2 Corinthians 9:7-9
7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
9 As it is written:
"He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever."