We are about 1/2 a year away from Christmas, but it is always a good time to consider whether there is “room” in the inn of your heart for Christ.
Not only for Christ, but also for all the purposes and plans he has in store for you (Jeremiah 29:11). In order to stay present, you need to make room for the things that are actual gifts—the people you love, the hobbies that make you feel alive, the responsibilities that give you a healthy sense of pride. Otherwise, the tyranny of the urgent will crowd out all other priorities.
As you approach summer (or re-imagine summer from the middle) what would it look like for you to stay roomy? To make room for God, others, and your own joy?
This can be difficult for many reasons. Some of us have packed our calendar so full, we don’t have room to think! Others of us have committed to the grind—hoping for some financial freedom by the end of the season. Any downtime is sure to see us flopping exhaustedly on the couch for phone-scrolling, Netflix-flipping, and snack-munching.
Still, I know you don’t want to reach the end of summer and wonder why you didn’t play outside, grill some pineapple with friends, or enjoy time with your family.
So how can you keep that “vacancy sign” on for the people and things you treasure? How do you stay roomy?
I believe making room requires rejection and invitation. You have to reject something—clear it out of your calendar, mind, or home—to create space for the best and truest things.
And once you have a few down days in your month, or a de-cluttered cupboard, or a mind that takes thoughts captive, then you must invite the gifts in.
It requires intentionality to plan a lake day with friends. You must reject your phone and the couch, drive to the water, and do the work to blow up the paddle board you rented.
It takes some mental muscle to say no to one more camp and make room for rest, picnics, trail walks, and sleeping under the stars in your backyard with your kids.
You know you’ve got that stay present gumption when you turn off re-runs to fall asleep on time, enabling you to rise refreshed and eager to meet with the Lord for your morning prayer walk.
Only you know what gifts you have accidentally stiff-armed instead of embraced. Only you can shift the process, making room for healthy food, wholesome thoughts, time with family, an active body, a run-through-the-sprinklers spontaneity, and a deep connection with the Lord this summer.
It seems counter-intuitive, but sometimes staying present requires a fair amount of evaluation of these things. What are you going to make room for in your day, your season, or your thought life?
Give yourself (and your family) the gift of carefully considering what gets to take up residency in those places!
Want more?
Thanks for reading Part 2 of my new e-book Stay Present Summer. There are LOADS of extras in the book, including
- tips for staying screen free,
- Bible readings,
- memory verses,
- journal prompts,
- activities you can enjoy with your kids (or roomies!)
- and more!
Download Stay Present Summer: 7 Ways to Claim Confidence and Contentment This Season here: Get my Free E-book!