Hearing from God Each Morning (July 8)

This blog is about today's devotion in the book Hearing from God Each Morning by Joyce Meyer.

Today's devotion talks about eliminating anything in our schedules that does not bear good fruit. When we feel over-burdened by things that we feel we have to do, they are either not what God wants from us or we are trying too hard to do them on our own power.

This devotion was just what I needed to read right now. I woke up tired because this past week has been the longest for me. All the days are blurring together, and each day feels like three or four days. For those that don't know, my dad was recently sent to jail. He bailed out, but my mom doesn't really want the kids with him (and the kids don't want to be around him). So I'm making sure all the kids are looked after while getting ready to move (I move across the country in 14 days). I'm not even close to ready to go. And in addition to that, I have tons of stuff to do for my college--stuff my dad is supposed to help with, but in his current state, probably won't be able to help me with.

A couple of days ago (I think?), I was talking to the pastor at my church, along with the secretary (who is the mother of a girl I have been close to since I was seven), and the pastor asked how I was really doing. I thought for a second, and realized I actually was doing really well. I told him, "I'm doing alright. Yes, this is hard, but God's here. I was at the end of my rope days ago. Now any energy I get is from God. Any smile is from God. Any sleep I manage to get is a blessing from God. So even though all of this is going on, God is still pouring His blessings on me."

That's a feeling I really needed to be reminded of. This is why I do my devotions in the morning. When I wake up and think how little sleep I got and how much I have to do, it can be too much. But I need to remember that God is here with me, holding my hand and leading me where I need to go.