Jesus calling

We have had several days of snow now. It comes from a severe storm off the Pacific which has drowned Southern California in rain, 93 mph wind, tornadoes, water spouts and mudslides. It continues today for the fourth straight day. Today is supposed to be the last day and tomorrow my little weather widget on my computer has a bright sunshiny icon, which makes me smile. I am a true Arizona girl. I love the sun, I even love the dry heat, so I say "Come on sun, four days is too long to be without those warm rays blasting through my windows."

I woke up at 4:30 this morning and gave in to it. I got out of bed instead of returning to the warmth of the down comforter and pillow for a couple more hours of sleep. There are so many things going on in the world, in my country, in my State, in my family and in me personally that threaten to rob me of peace. I found these things crowding into my early morning with Jesus, "Good morning Lord, what a blessing and honor it is to come into Your presence this morning...[where is my list of things to do that I wrote out yesterday, I must have left it in my purse, got to remember to get that out and add such and such to it]...oh yes, and Lord, this morning can I talk to you about this thing that is troubling me concerning my son's finances, it is hurting my heart and I so want to fix it...[I could go to Bed, Bath and Beyond and find that comforter I have been looking for, oh yes, here it is in my clippings from the latest Cottage Living magazine--Oooh, I love the way this looks, it would look perfect in my...] Oh Jesus, listen to me! I am just so double minded this morning, I can't keep my eyes fixed on You at all!"

This morning in a little devotional booklet I picked up over Christmas called "Jesus Calling", I read His response to me: "It's all right to be human. When your mind wanders while you are praying, don't be surprised or upset. Simply return your attention to Me. Share a secret smile with Me, knowing that I understand."

Wow! Was that You Lord, did You just respond to me like that?

How do we return our attention to Him? I don't try to pretend that I am superspiritual wonder woman, but this morning I did what I have done so often, I simply said "Jesus, You know my heart and how my mind wanders all over the place. I can't control these things, but You abide in me and Your mind is not wandering all over the place; it is steadfast, fixed, at peace and not at all overwhelmed by the things that are overwhelming me. I choose to walk into Your peace and undisturbed composure right now. Jesus, come and be my peace. Come and be my security. Come and be my fearlessness. Come and order my thoughts for this day. Remind me that even if my children undergo trials and tribulations, it is for their refining and for their good and for Your glory and I don't have to fix everything. So, right now my Beloved Lord, go ahead and pray for them through me, with Your groanings too deep for words, groanings that I myself experience, but do not know how to voice. Pray Your own will for them; Your own plan for their sanctification and growth."

And Peace returns.

It always does.