My Way for a Day

Some days I find myself bemoaning my to-do list, wishing I could shred it into a thousand pieces and watch it fall into the trash like fairy dust. Fairy dust that gives me the right to do as I please for one day. To have things my way. To have my husband and children serve me. To have the house to myself. To be left alone. Because sometimes being a wife and a mom is just plain exhausting.

Artwork Copyright Karla Dornacher

Alas, this is not the life I have chosen. Nor will it ever be. When I face those days, I must turn to the following verses:

Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from Your presence,
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.

Psalm 51:10-12

Lord, remove my will and replace it with Yours. May I love my husband and children the way that You do; may I see them with Your eyes. May I love them with Your heart.

Renew my strength to endure, Lord. Give me a fresh breath of life. Blow Your Spirit deep into my own. May I stand firm in my confession of Your goodness and mercy. Let me not grow weary in doing good.

Lord, draw me near to You. Hold me in Your embrace. Hide me under the shadow of Your mighty wing. Don't allow me to stray from Your path. Help me to hear Your still small voice amidst the winds, the fires, and the earthquakes of life.

Restore the joy of Your salvation. Let me never forget the moment I came to know my First Love. Let Your Word jump off the page at me just as it did in that first moment of purity in my life as a new woman. Blot out the world in my life and purify my heart. Bring Your refreshing. Uphold me in the generosity of Your Love. Fill my heart and mind with the joy of knowing You.

Tell me, dear reader, what words you would use to pray this verse in your life. How do you handle those days when you wish  you could have it all your way and not have to do anything for another, out of desire or desperation?

Please Note: For the next few months, as I post these devotion-type encouragements on Mondays, I will be featuring artwork and photographs and such that I've discovered around the web. I pray you find these inspiring, as well. I will link to the website of the artist/photographer/etc. underneath the photo. Watch below the posts for more information, such as where to purchase the designs if you wish. For example:

Today's artwork is by Karla Dornacher. She has a shop over at Etsy, where she sells copies of this print. While visiting, check out her other designs. They're so precious!