These are the first words I read this morning when I woke up and propped open my wonderful Jesus Calling. School started a week ago, but I already feel like I've had my fair share of "messy days." I'm learning to find Jesus in the midst of them though, thanks to some new tricks and habits I've learned.
The first thing I've started to do is use and rely on one devotional, and what a gift Jesus Calling has been to my life. It's probably one of the most hyped-up devo books out there (next to the mystical and all-powerful "Blue Book"), but I never understood what all the talk was about until I purchased one of my very own. For every day of the year, this book gives me a unique "talking-to" from Jesus himself! It's absolutely incredible. Not to mention it's super pretty and the perfect size to throw in my purse!
I've also started waking up earlier to give myself some alone time before school so that I can start my day off on the right foot. I've started to use the phrase "no Bible no breakfast" to inspire myself. It's simple- if I can't make time for Jesus in the morning, I'll go without breakfast that day. It sounds sort of silly, but I find myself waking up with hunger not only for my Marshmallow Mateys and coffee, but for God's word too.
If you look around my room, car, or even locker at school you'll notice that I love quotes and pictures, and just little items to remind myself of people and Jesus and the things that are really important to me. Whether it be my Windy Gap nametag hanging from my rearview mirror, all 400,000 pictures of my friends in my room, or the little notecards of bible verses taped in my locker, I love having sweet treasures for myself throughout the day. They help me focus and relax myself and find Him in the midst.
The most important thing I can do in order to find Him in my messy days is surround myself with people who are seeking Him just like me! I have a close group of galpals who all want the same thing as me, and so far I think we've done a great job with encouraging one another to find Jesus through the annoying and confusing trials of our daily lives. We have a group message that is constantly overflowing with prayers for one another and any great scripture or encouraging words one of us read that day. We've also gotten really good at surprising each other with the "little things". Twice now I've opened my locker in the morning after having a hard day before, and found a sweet treat and a bible verse waiting for me. It's something that is so simple, yet it really turned my day(s) around. It's all about finding Him in the midst.
Slowly but surely, I see that finding Jesus is turning into a habit and a way of life rather than something I must consciously think about. A lot of times it's not the easiest thing in the world, but at the end of the day my efforts are so worth it.
xoxo,
Rachel
"He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together." Colossians 1:17
