I did not write last week. Obedience.

Here’s what I hate: I did not write last week. 

Last week was the first week out of the entire last year that I did not post on my blog.  I had prayed about being consistent in writing, and was happy that I had been able to be so faithful.  People may not be hanging on the edge of their seats waiting for me to post a couple of paragraphs of my random insights, but I love writing and I wanted to make sure and post something each week. 

Now that I’ve blown my record, I’ll attempt to explain why I didn’t write last week.

I was stuck in an elevator…and I didn’t have internet…and the phone wasn’t working…and…

Actually, I stole most of that line from You’ve Got Mail. 

I was not stuck in an elevator.  And while I was fairly busy, (remember, last week was a short week with Labor Day and all), I could have made time to write.

Actually, my reason for not writing was much more serious.

I didn’t have anything to write about.

You see, most weeks, I know early on what I am going to write about.  Something interesting or thought-provoking or funny or trying happens—or I’m studying a certain passage in the Bible and a thought will occur to me.  As I reflect on what the Lord is teaching me, I begin to formulate a blog post in my head.  That post is generally written up on Thursday and finished and posted “live” on Fridays. 

Last week, I had nothing.

I know that I need to keep writing even if I don’t feel “inspired”, but I don’t want to just ramble on my blog (like I am now).  I want to share something meaningful—something helpful and encouraging. 

Last week, nothing came to mind.

Unfortunately, I think this week of being uninspired was my own doing.  You see, I asked God to keep me humble.

Nothing more humbling than being reminded that I can’t write without God’s spirit fueling the fire!  Well, I mean, I could write—I could put a lot of drivel down on paper, but it wouldn’t constitute something that I feel compelled to put out there for others to read.

So, I prayed and asked God to show me what to write about.

Crickets.  Crickets.  Crickets. 

I had nothing.

I heard nothing.

I wrote nothing.

This brought me to the realization (reminder) that I am nothing.

Without Him, I have nothing worth saying.

That might sound a little harsh to you, but in the economy of eternity, I’d rather be sharing an encouraging word that God has whispered to my heart than any other “clever” thing I might think to post about.

After all, much of what I write will probably go in one ear and out the other so-to-speak.  However, if a lesson God is teaching me happens to encourage even one reader out there, then, I have not written in vain.

So, as I wrestled all week with the fact that I had written nothing, I began praying instead of fretting and tonight, I got inspired…

Here’s what I love: obedience is better than sacrifice.

Tonight, I read an extra chapter of C.S. Lewis’ The Silver Chair to the girls.  It was past their bedtime, but the story was so good, I had to keep reading.  Abbey usually snuggles next to me when I read, but Alexis sometimes sits at her little desk and colors as she listens to the story.

I finally had to stick the bookmark in and close the book.

Time to pray.  I announced. 

Alexis, please come over and get in bed.

She kept coloring.

Alexis. (Stern voice this time).

Just a minute Mommy, I am just finishing this little picture FOR YOU. 

She was diligently scribbling away.

That’s very nice Alexis, but it’s time for you to get in your bed.  We are waiting on you.

  

Even as she disobeyed me again, I was secretly a little bit happy.  I finally had something to write about!

You see, when Alexis opted to ignore what I had asked and kept working on her picture (“for me”), the Lord immediately brought to mind the verse about obedience being better than sacrifice. 

“Sacrifice” in this sense is like an offering—something “good” that we do to try to please God. 

Alexis was drawing me a picture.

But, I knew that it was bedtime.  I knew the sooner I got her tucked in, the sooner she’d be asleep.  Sleep is healthy.  By not coming when I called her, she was delaying this whole process and impeding her sister from getting tucked in. 

She was putting the whole evening on delay so that it revolved around her good deed…for me.

I am pretty sure that I do this a lot.

God calls me to do something healthy, something timely, something He knows is good for me and for all involved.

But, I delay.

I delay to do my own thing.

Sometimes I even say it’s for Him.

I’m not talking about God calling me to feed the homeless when I’m on the way to church (although, that scenario would apply).  I’m talking about God calling us to obey Him—even in the small things.

It could even be closer to the situation with Alexis than we realize.

God could be saying—it’s time to go to bed Elisabeth.  You need some rest.

I keep checking email.

Elisabeth.  (Clearer voice this time.)

Just a minute God, I am checking email and Facebook…um, to see if there are any serious prayer requests or things I can do to serve You!

I keep clicking away.

That’s very nice Elisabeth, (and a load of crap), but, you really need your rest tonight to be ready for what I have for you tomorrow. 

There may be a more legitimate, less comical scenario in my life—one in which I am doing something with good intentions to try to please God.  Maybe it’s church, or a bible study, or volunteering.  If these “pretty pictures for God” keep me from obeying His will for me, then I am not choosing what is better. 

I am choosing self. (Stubbornness.)

I am saying that I know better. (Rebellion.)

Obedience is acknowledging God as Lord of your life—saying He knows better.  So, I will work on obeying and accepting His lesson in humility.  He is God and I am not.