Home Tools for your Journey July 7

Tuesday, July 7

For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like.
—James 1:23-24

Most of us remember our mother's words of advice: "Remember your chores, and make sure those chores are done daily—without my having to remind you." Despite her admonition, we often claimed to have forgotten those chores, when, really, we hadn't forgotten at all. We simply didn't want to be bothered with the responsibility of work. We wanted to play instead.

Yet, at sometime in our childhood, our mother's voice was like
the voice of God spoken to Moses at the burning bush. When we heard the depth of meaning in that voice, we did whatever needed to be done, and we were inclined to do it right then.

God is our mother and our father in spirit. The "chores" that God asks us to attend to daily are not hard. We should not have to be told over and over to feel the power of God's word in our soul, or follow the commandments that make us spiritually healthy and fully alive. Yet, we sometimes seem to act as if that's exactly what we expect God to do. 

As we grow and mature into young adults, the need for our mother to repeatedly ask us to perform certain tasks becomes less and less. The same is true with God. As we grow and mature in spirit, our tendency to do those things that nourish our soul and bring us closer to God become second nature. We become doers instead of hearers of the word. When we settle into the intent God has for us, we find our soul and life surprisingly full.

Gracious God, help me see that what you ask of me fills my soul rather than depletes it.