Author:
Pastor Bill
I can remember back a few years when our children were 10, 9, 7, and 4 we planned a family vacation and the main attraction was the Grand Canyon, in Arizona . For several months before the event we looked up interesting things to do while there. One adventurous thing caught everyone's imagination. Climb down the Bright Angel Trail to the bottom - a trail of switch backs reaching a mile straight down!
We talked about it and decided that the three oldest children and I would take the plunge while mother and baby waited securely at the top for our return.
The anticipation was with us day and night for weeks before the trip. How would we do this? How big was the trail? Would we need water with us? What about food? All kinds of insecure thoughts ran through our minds. What if we never came back? What's down there?
The excitement and consternation grew and grew as we neared the National Park in our van. Finally, we had arrived. Now we had to check for supplies: food, water, snacks, water, backpacks, more water and more snacks.
The troop was ready. Away we went, waving goodbye to mom and baby as we descended into the depths of the Grand Canyon . The anticipation was over and now the follow through.
Obviously, by my writing this we did go down and come back up (only about half way). Our trip was over not long after it began when we ran out of snacks and food - never did drink the water! When the snacks and food were gone, so was the interest of the children! "Good intentions but poor follow through".
This trip reminds me of a plan I once had to pray and read the Bible. I remember many years ago after becoming a Christian that with great enthusiasm I wanted to read the bible, cover to cover but as soon as I started all kinds of distractions caused me to get side tracked. The dog needed attention, one of the children had an ear ache, the car didn't work or the old stand by -- the grass needed to be cut. "Good intentions but poor follow through".
What helped me turn the corner on prayer and bible study was establishing a priority in my life to stop and listen. What I was always trying to do with my "good intentions" was manipulate my time to accommodate prayer and bible study after everything else was done. You know, it took me years to figure out that all I had to do was create a priority to stop and listen. Once I learned that lesson praying and studying the bible became the fruit of an enjoyable time with the Lord.
I can remember back a few years when our children were 10, 9, 7, and 4 we planned a family vacation and the main attraction was the Grand Canyon, in Arizona . For several months before the event we looked up interesting things to do while there. One adventurous thing caught everyone's imagination. Climb down the Bright Angel Trail to the bottom - a trail of switch backs reaching a mile straight down!
We talked about it and decided that the three oldest children and I would take the plunge while mother and baby waited securely at the top for our return.
The anticipation was with us day and night for weeks before the trip. How would we do this? How big was the trail? Would we need water with us? What about food? All kinds of insecure thoughts ran through our minds. What if we never came back? What's down there?
The excitement and consternation grew and grew as we neared the National Park in our van. Finally, we had arrived. Now we had to check for supplies: food, water, snacks, water, backpacks, more water and more snacks.
The troop was ready. Away we went, waving goodbye to mom and baby as we descended into the depths of the Grand Canyon . The anticipation was over and now the follow through.
Obviously, by my writing this we did go down and come back up (only about half way). Our trip was over not long after it began when we ran out of snacks and food - never did drink the water! When the snacks and food were gone, so was the interest of the children! "Good intentions but poor follow through".
This trip reminds me of a plan I once had to pray and read the Bible. I remember many years ago after becoming a Christian that with great enthusiasm I wanted to read the bible, cover to cover but as soon as I started all kinds of distractions caused me to get side tracked. The dog needed attention, one of the children had an ear ache, the car didn't work or the old stand by -- the grass needed to be cut. "Good intentions but poor follow through".
What helped me turn the corner on prayer and bible study was establishing a priority in my life to stop and listen. What I was always trying to do with my "good intentions" was manipulate my time to accommodate prayer and bible study after everything else was done. You know, it took me years to figure out that all I had to do was create a priority to stop and listen. Once I learned that lesson praying and studying the bible became the fruit of an enjoyable time with the Lord.
“Watch
and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but
the flesh is weak” - Matthew 26:41
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