Editor’s
journey
How
would you spend a day off?
SPRINGFIELD, MO. —
Ten believers were asked to describe their perfect day —
how they would spend a day off. The answers included shopping
with a new credit card, sipping sodas on a beach, reading a novel
by the pool, sleeping late and eating breakfast in bed, and taking
a long bike ride.
Some readers may wonder
why “attending a prayer meeting” or “reading
the Bible” didn’t make the list. That may be a fair
question, but I’m more concerned with the notion that we
can only honor God when we’re participating in church-related
activities. We need to realize that we also honor and glorify
God in the ordinary activities of life — like getting adequate
rest or wrestling with the kids in the back yard.
We should never minimize
the value of Bible reading, prayer and faithful church attendance.
These disciplines help build intimacy with Jesus, which yields
strength, comfort and guidance. But too many believers live with
guilt because they feel they can’t measure up to some unrealistic
standard. They don’t feel they read enough Scripture or
spend enough time in prayer — so they experience a twinge
of guilt every time they escape to do something fun.
Yes, we should find
pleasure in spending time with the Lord. But He also wants us
to enjoy other facets of life — like spending quality time
with our family and friends. We can go fishing, work in the garden,
swing a golf club, or bake a cake and know that God takes pleasure
in our smiles, our laughter and our rest.
Be assured, the pause
button of faith is not pushed every time we race around a tennis
court or shopping mall. God is with us whether we’re working,
worshiping or just simply relaxing.
Hal Donaldson
E-mail your comments
to pe@ag.org.
