Stepping Stones: The Ultimate Appointment

Transformational Tip

For years I’ve taken a weekly music lesson. It has become the highlight of my week. It’s only 30 minute, and my teacher is very talented, but also kind of grumpy…but I still really enjoy that 30 minutes. I’m notorious for cancelling appointments because of my incessant overbooking, but I rarely cancel my music lesson.

Part of it comes from my love of music, but mostly I show up because my teacher expects me to. He can tell within 5 minutes if I have kept my commitment to practice that preceding week…in a way he holds me accountable. The main reason I show up is because my teacher gives me the impression that I have the ability to play my instrument with greater skill than I believe I can.

What if you could have a daily appointment with someone who loves you…someone who accepts you just as you are, while seeing in you far more than you see in yourself? What if this person (teacher) could relieve your stress, forgive all your transgressions, eliminate your guilt and your insecurity…and especially your world-weariness? If such a place and such a person did exist, you can be confident that your greatest enemy would not want you going there…would try to talk you out of it, or hide it from you. Well, it exists and He is waiting…for you.

Today, accept and rejoice over the reality that that place and the Person are waiting for you. Identify one activity you can shorten to go someplace and to someone for all you desires. Find practical ways to begin wearing a path to Him. Make dates with Him and then keep those dates. Click here to share with the Stepping Stones community your thoughts on how best to keep your appointments with God.

Prayer
Dear Father God, I know deep in my heart that spending time with You is the most important and rewarding investment of time I can make…yet, it is also the most difficult part of my daily behavior to master. I pray, Father, that You quiet the evil spirits who work so tirelessly to deceive me with intrusive thoughts and distraction. Help me submit to the Holy Spirit to master my flesh’s impulses and knee-jerk wants. I pray in the name of Your Son and my ultimate teacher, Jesus Christ; and all God’s children said - AMEN!

The Truth
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Philippians 4:8
O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.
Psalm 139:1-2