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There I am watching from a distance.
I’m watching myself as a stranger.
I am like one who seems aloof.
Distracted.
I’ve done my list today.
The dishes have been done, bed made, laundry washed, dried and folded.
Phone calls and e-mails have been returned.
I’ve done all of the things that needed to get done this day.
I am sitting with my family at the dinner table.
My dear husband is serving me a portion of the dish he has made for us.
I look around the table.
I realize I have been watching myself all day but not fully aware. Not really present.
I am surprised at my awakening.
I ask, “Did we pray?”
The looks of surprise on the faces of my husband and daughter speak clearly.
I ask, “What is my problem, Lord? I am tuned out today”
I know part of the answer lies in the way I jumped into the day.
It’s not that I wasn’t thinking about Him nor He me.
His grace and faithfulness never leave me, yet I can surely distance myself from Him.
Perhaps you have done this, too?
The song “The Motions” by Matthew West comes into my mind.
I agree that “just Okay is not enough”.
“I don’t wanna go through the motions
I don’t wanna go one more day
without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don’t wanna spend my whole life asking,
‘What if I had given everything,
instead of going through the motions?’ ”
~Matthew West
I want to be fully alive and present in the moments of this life, and the “nothingness of life” seems to sneak in like a snake, strangling my heart with subtle apathy and passionless moments.
But our God is a compassionate and passionate Being.Not complacent. He is fully alive and active in the lives of His own.
The awareness and acknowledging of Him and His very real presence bring intimacy and connection.
I am convinced that Jesus didn’t keep a To Do List or a Bucket List.
Sometimes our long lists keep us from His right now, in this present moment, good and perfect will for us. To be in that will we must have tune our ear to the One who promises to be present with us always.
Are we turning a deaf ear to the Savior of our souls? Are we drudging through the days, checking off our lists without checking in with the One who hears our heart’s cry? If so, it’s time we wake up and smell the spiritual coffee, and take a good long drink from that steaming, hot, rich brew.
Let’s stop in our tracks, shake off our slumber and praise Him for who He is; drink Him up! Certainly He does great and mighty things for us and should be thanked accordingly.
But consider that He is a Great and Mighty God who deserves our full attention all the time and is worthy of our praise every moment of the day. Oh, praise Him that He is patient with our dullness! There is nothing wrong with having To Do Lists, Gratitude Lists, Bucket Lists, the list goes on and on.
Trust me I am a fan of lists. But the power of praising Him for who He is more than what He gives, ushers us into His Holy presence! Let’s not be just list makers or sleepwalkers going through the motions. Instead let’s be people who praise our Mighty God and Deliverer daily.
Let’s be connected, present and available in the time called today, right now!
And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.
(Romans 13:11)
“Are We Just Going Through The Motions?” was my first offering as a regular featured contributor and team member at 5 Minutes for Faith
*This post is part of The 12 Days of Blog Posts, Weekends and Wednesdays in December!*
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Enthusiastically, Dawn 
Amen!
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You have given me something to think on.
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So important to check in with God, seek his face. I miss when I do not do that but why is it so difficult to get myself some days to sit and read my bible and sit in his presence. Perhaps because I come face to face with me, with my thoughts, feelings and there is no hiding place from father God, he sees, knows it all. Yet I learn, I hear God and I leave this special time renewed and filled with his presence.
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Amen, amen.
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