Today starts the beginning of our ‘Summer in July’ series. The devotionals will be short and focus on helping you make the most of the summer time months. In addition, I’m including a list of book recommendations over the next five weeks to add to your summer reading list. As an extra feature, scroll down to the bottom of the post and click on the Amazon book images to order. I hope you enjoy the convenience of purchasing a product without having to search for it.
The month of July gives me a little bit of respite. This is when I get to work in some vacation time and do some things I want to do, and need to do. A few days ago I started a new Bible study called the Covenant study, (focusing on the book of Ruth, Esther, and Song of Songs), with some precious women of faith from all over the country. It’s the perfect way to start the month.
In addition to enjoying some time with family and friends, I’ve also got several projects on my to-do list. It would be easy to get distracted and focus only on the fun, but I’m determined to work on a couple of things that have deadlines.
One of those projects will be writing content and working on freebies for this ministry, and the remainder of my break will be spent on the decluttering project I started back in the spring. It’s certainly not all fun, but it is rewarding.
The overarching and most important thing I want to do during this time of rest is to honor God with my intentions. I want to be intentional in creating time…quality time for the One who sees time so much differently than us.
If I’m going to get through at least some of the items on my list, then I’ve got to lean on Him. And His word tells me in Philippians 4:13 ESV that, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”
You see Christ knows me better than I know myself and I can do nothing apart from him. He knows what I have planned, yet He doesn’t want me to be controlled by my plan. He wants me to rest and rejuvenate and be open to the possibilities that I cannot see yet. In the mean time, I’m going to start my day with Him and unplug from the world, if only for a little while.
So as I look forward to my time of rest, I’m going to target the projects I have on my list. But, I’m also going to appreciate the blank spaces in my calendar and take it easy with my favorite people. And maybe, just maybe, I’ll have a little time to catch up on my reading. How are you spending your time this summer?
God’s word tells us in Isaiah 26:3, “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”
Blessing to you in the week ahead. Oh, and don’t forget to check out the book recommendations below.
Living “So That” is a fresh approach to understanding God’s Word, focusing on many of the powerful “so that” verses in Scripture, including Jesus Came So That. . .; God Spoke So That. . .; Pray So That. . .; Trials Come So That. . . . Through her approachable style, personal examples, and biblical teaching, Wendy equips readers to take what they study in the Word of God and practically live it out in order to impact the world around them. The result is a renewed appreciation for the power and applicability of Scripture. Through practical examples and biblical truths, Wendy helps readers gain a new perspective on daily living, equipping them to apply these biblical truths to present-day decision-making.
Most of us know all too well how stressful it can be to have a home packed to the gills, with an overbooked schedule to match. But what if we had a plan to rid our lives–and our homes–of clutter, one small step at a time? 31 Days to a Clutter Free Life is not a book to be read cover to cover–instead it is a set of 31 daily challenges, based on the wildly popular month-long challenge originally hosted at LivingWellSpendingLess.com, that will empower and inspire you to clear your life, one day at a time, of the clutter that is filling up your home, mind, and schedule. It’s not meant to make you simply think about decluttering, it is a set of checklists that will help you ACT.
If you want to add these books to your summer reading collection, simply click on the images below to order from amazon.com. I only recommend products that I love and believe will bring you value. If you purchase through the affiliate link below I will earn a small percentage to go towards creating the free content I offer to my readers and continue this ministry.
Love this, Mitzi. Especially these thoughts, “The overarching and most important thing I want to do during this time of rest is to honor God with my intentions. I want to be intentional in creating time…quality time for the One who sees time so much differently than us.” Amen!
Thank you so much!!! Another friend shared her thoughts on what quality time looks like for our Heavenly Father……and it so different from what we see or think about. If we are to aspire to be like Him, then it’s important to see things from His perspective.
I love this. My July intentions are similar! Love how you worded how He knows our plans but doesn’t want us controlled by them- and has more for us when we rely on Him. May that be my prayer for July as well!
Boy, I am glad I found your blog! This was so refreshing to read! I loved it <3
Enjoy your time of rest and all those beautiful blank spaces, Mitzi.