During our recent trans-Atlantic move, I had a unique lesson in how to stay awake. After 4 hours in line at the Dallas airport and a 10 hour flight, our family had a 9 hour layover in Frankfurt. For 9 hours, life felt like going through the motions. I was scared to death we’d fall asleep and miss our next flight! We walked. We sat and drank coffee. We walked some more. Heads nodding, we played cards and read books. Then we drank more coffee. It was a relief to finally get on the plane to Izmir.
Moving through eight time zones messes up your body. For a week, we had jet lag. I needed a fork lift to get myself out of bed in the mornings. My struggle to stay awake physically made me think about how much we need spiritual awakening.
Many of us are living life asleep.
Do you ever feel like your busy routines lull you to sleep? You might not have jet lag, but you’re living on auto-pilot, making it through the day. God has so much more for us:
Jesus came to give us abundant life, a life full of joy and meaning. Knowing and loving God brings joy, yet the daily drudge can drag us down. You may be going through a busy season, an overwhelming season, or a downright difficult season. Take heart. This season will end, but you can take steps even now to wake up to the joys you’re missing.
How can you stay awake to joy when life lulls you to sleep?
Take Joy in Small Things
Recently I had a revelation while hanging laundry on my balcony. Yes, the drudge was there. I was hanging laundry. But God opened my eyes to the loveliness of the sunlight glinting through the trees in the park below. How much joy do we miss simply because our eyes are shut to the small? Let’s not miss out on the simple gifts from God, like a delicious meal or a soft pillow at night.
Treasure Your Time with God
Take time to savor God’s presence. When you open your Bible, lean in close and wait for God to speak. When He speaks, hold tightly to His Word. Take it with you into your day. Put it into practice. You’ll be blessed.
Give Thanks Always
Go on a treasure hunt to see what God is doing and what you can thank Him for. Keep your eyes open. Even in hard times, you’ll see blessings. This always changes my attitude and awakens my heart.
Reach out to Your Peeps
After our move, I felt overwhelmed by culture shock and sadness over the friends and family we left behind. One day, I made a few phone calls to people back home, and I was amazed at how much better I felt. Making a phone call, reaching out to hug someone, or saying, “I love you” can make a difference in our day.
Keep Your Serve
Who can you serve today? Whether you open your home to a Bible study group or make a meal for a sick friend, you’ll be blessed. Sometimes I also need to open my eyes to the joy of serving my family. I may not feel like sewing a button on that shirt or teaching my teenager to make a budget, but God blesses my work when I see it as a service opportunity in His Kingdom.
God’s abundance is always within our reach. Rejoicing and giving thanks for small things keeps us aware. Treasuring our time with God enlivens us. Reaching out and serving people add meaning to life. What step can you take today to take hold of joy?
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I’m linking up with Holly Barrett’s Testimony Tuesday, #RaRaLinkup with Katie Reid, Tuesday Talk with Ruthie Gray, Jennifer Dukes Lee’s #TellHisStory, Lyli Dunbar’s Thought-Provoking Thursday, and Arabah Joy’s Grace and Truth. Check out these communities for more encouragement.
Hi friend, I read this slowly and allowed it sip in gently. Oh what peaceful and reassuring message.
There’s hope and strength in Christ Jesus even through those sleep mode seasons.
Thank you for your encouragement
Many blessings to you
Blessings to you too, Ifeoma. May the Lord keep you WIDE AWAKE! 🙂
Great post! I need to do more slowing down and taking savoring the joys. Looking forward to a vacation soon 🙂 Glad to see you back – and settling into life after the move.
Thanks, Kathryn. I’m settling in! I myself was thinking that summer is the perfect time to slow down and wake up to joy. Hope you get some vacation time soon. Not sure how “slow” your summer goes with the kids out of school, but at least they don’t have homework!
Betsy,
What a great reminder that Jesus came to give us joy and abundant life. Sometimes I need to be reminded of this basic fact. I like when you say “go on a treasure hunt” for things to give God thanks for. I need to not only keep my eyes open but go searching to see Him revealed and reach out in service to others…I could stand to employ all of the above!
Blessings,
Bev
I know what you mean, Bev. I forget that basic fact all the time. Let’s go on that treasure hunt together. I’m starting today!
“Keep your serve” – love it! Solid tips, Betsy. Glad you’re sliding back into the rhythm…and have a frig, for goodness sake. Those time zone differences are a hurdle initially – boogers, I tell you! Sounds like you made several solid spiritual choices to handle those changes. Thanks for sharing them. xo
Oh yes, having a fridge puts me back up and running! Hope you are sliding back into regular life again after your vacation/writing time last week.
Great tips, Betsy! I try to be present, it’s an ongoing goal that my daughter now reminds me of if I get too distracted. It helps to refocus me on the importance of the small in the scope of the large. Always a pleasure to stop by, glad to hear the jet lag is waning!
Thanks, Jill. Yes, I find that my kids also remind me of these things! Blessings upon you, friend, as the summer starts!
welcome home, Betsy …
Thanks. 🙂
Oh how much joy we would have if we implemented these tips every day Betsy! Thank you for sharing this wonderful reminder to stay awake to the “wonders” of that God is doing . What a blessing to be in His family. Speaking of family, may God watch over you and yours as you seek to serve Him overseas! Have a blessed week my sister in Christ!
Thank you, Horace. May your week be blessed too, friend.
“Keep your serve” – I love that, Betsy. So often, that is exactly what we need to awaken us. That trip sounds absolutely awful, btw. But your insight, as usual, lends itself to wise insight. The glimpse of sunshine on your balcony as you hung laundry, pointing to the fact we need to give thanks as well, painted a picture of the small things (yet huge) that we constantly take for granted.
I don’t want to be spiritually asleep, just going through the motions. I desire to be fully awake, keeping my serve, maintaining thankfulness and prayerfulness!
Thanks for stopping by for Tuesday Talk, Betsy, so good to see you again!
Yes, I’d missed you and your blog, Ruthie. Was so glad to stop by today. Hope you enjoy your beach vacation, awake to the small, beautiful things. Praying for you and your family now!
Betsy, I loved this and I love that we can stay in touch eventhough we’re so much farther apart now.
I was nodding right along as I read the point about serving. I was thinking that we were on the same page about opening up our homes and having a Bible study.
But then you talked about serving your family and I was convicted. I need to also see the day to day chores at home as service to God AND my family! Thank you for that reminder!
Hugs!
You and me both, Ruthie! Yes to erving God in the day to day as we serve our families. So hard to keep our eyes in the right place sometimes, isn’t it? 🙂
Love your encouraging spirit my friend! Thanks for being a part of the #RaRalinkup community. 🙂
Thanks, Katie. Blessings to you and your family, friend.
Moves are difficult. I can’t even imagine shifting through 8 time zones. That makes my head spin just thinking about it. These are great tips on staying awake to joy, Betsy. I’m really working on finding it in the small things as you mentioned. It’s really amazing once you start noticing where joy can be found. I love this phrase: Keep Your Serve. I’m taking that with me today. Thank you :).
Several people have mentioned “Keep your serve,” Candace. It’s amazing how serving others gives us joy, isn’t it. And yes, I’m with you on finding it in small things.
Betsy, what great reminders to keep our eyes focused on things other than ourselves! I bet it would have been really easy for you to complain about the fact that you were tired and moving to another country! I love that you chose to look at the little blessings and opportunities that God presented you with. This so encouraged me today, thanks for sharing! Linking up with you at Tuesday Talk.
Oh believe me, Alisa, I do my share of complaining! Sometimes ranting to myself if not out loud. But God has mercy and reminds me of all I have to thank Him for!
We were in Alabama this weekend, and I visited a women’s Bible study taught by my sister-in-law. John 10:10 was the focus of her teaching! I believe God’s telling me something:) Great post, friend!
Wow, I think God is telling you something, friend. I think He has great things for you. Lifting you up in prayer now.
I’m glad you survived the trip and the move and adjusting to the new time zone, Betsy! It’s good to see you back … I’ve missed you! I love your list. You’re right … “God’s abundance is always within our reach,” and often right under our nose!
Yes, Lois! So often that abundance we’re missing is right under our nose. Well said, friend. Let’s keep our eyes open wider. What do you say? 🙂
So happy to see your face at Holly’s place today, and to know that you have safely arrived — and to read your words once again! Whenever I hang laundry I am reminded of Luci Shaw’s poem about her long-ago laundry hanging days when she described all the towels and nightgowns “praying their vapors to the sun.” Hey, there’s beauty even at the clothesline!
You made me smile, Michele! Thanks! Here’s to beauty at the clothesline!
What a trip friend! Compounded by all that you were going toward and all that you’d said goodbye to. Thank you for these great reminders …. it’s amazing how serving others takes our eyes off of our circumstance and lifts our spirits.
Yes, it’s true, Lisa. Serving others takes our eyes off of ourselves. Just what I need sometimes.
Beautiful reminders today, friend! I’ll be looking for His abundance in my life today! xo
Amen, Liz! I pray that you find it!
Betsy, such wise suggestions on ways to stay awake to joy. ” Treasuring our time with God enlivens us.” It is amazing how time spent with Him makes all the difference in the day. So good to be here this morning!
It’s true Joanne. Thinking of spending a bit of time in the quiet with the Lord actually makes me look forward to the new day ahead when I go to bed at night. 🙂
I love how you put this, Betsy, because it’s not that God’s joy and abundance aren’t available, we’re just sometimes not able to access it for so many reasons. I definitely identify with that feeling of being on autopilot, just going through the motions without a real awareness of God’s presence and His desire to bless and love me.
I think we can all identify with that, Jeannie. Saying a prayer for you now, friend. May the Lord give us grace to access all He has for us.
Oh wow! So glad you made it safely- I could not have stayed awake!!! These suggestions are wonderful : ) Amen. His abundance is always available and never lacking in anything we need to have joy in Him. Love this, Betsy, thank you!
Blessings to you, Bethany! May He increase your joy this week, Bethany!
Oh, how I wish I could stay awake to all of life’s blessings that God wants to show me. I feel like much of the time we are sleepwalking instead of being fully aware of the presence of God all around us and in us. Thanks for these tips, Betsy!
Me too, Lisa! Sleepwalking all too often here. Let’s stay awake!
I love the five things you narrow finding joy to. Keeping is simple makes it much easier to remember. Blessings today!
Blessings to you too, Ginger!
Oh wow! What a trip! Sounds like a doozie of a ride. Glad you made it safely. Great tips for staying awake in life. I admit, I’m often so tired and stressed I’m practically sleep-walking through my days. Thanks for the wake-up call!
I can only imagine, Elizabeth, that you’re living tired. Praying for grace for you, and for pockets of rest with your busy family.
I can identify with this post so much! So much!
Lifting a prayer for you now, Barbie! Thanks for reading!
Great message. Thank you.
God bless.
I love this, Betsy … a couple of things stand out to me … one is the idea of keeping our eyes closed to the small. That is something God has been nudging me about lately. Watching for Him in my day. And … being still. sooooo still. This is something I need to practice. I am busy by nature … I desperately need quiet and stillness … but i can’t make myself be still for long periods of time … and I need to. It’s true, when we see God, joy follows!
I’m like you, Dianne. Have a hard time quieting myself! But yes, yes, a thousand times yes! That’s when we discern God more easily! 🙂 Joy to you, friend.
Betsy, every time I read your posts, I’m so glad I did. They are a joy in my day. You give us such great advice here. I love the idea of going on a treasure hunt…and serving others. Oh, all your tips are good! Thanks for filling my morning with joy!
Oh thanks Sabra! You’ve made my day now. Thanks for your encouragement, friend. I needed some just now. 🙂
Such great reminders Betsy! My son is moving all the way to China in 7 weeks, and I’m going to be reminding him of these things in the midst of his own transition. So glad you are settling in and getting acclimated to your new adventure. Visiting from Grace and Truth:)
Blessings on your son, Crystal. And to you as you deal with a big transition yourself, sister! Thanks for visiting today.
Betsy, I’ve been there so many times with the jetlag. Our recent trip to Hong Kong, oh my goodness, I felt like I was sleep walking. Your post awakened me from the spiritual fog we so often find ourselves in. I have so much to see and be thankful for.
I know you’ve been down that jetlag road, Rachel! Yes, we do have so much to be thankful for. I need to keep my eyes wide open!
It is so important to keep our focus on God and the daily gifts He gives to us instead of the mundaneness of life. Thanks for linking up with Grace and Truth.
Yes, yes, and yes, Aimee. So important! I love the Grace and Truth community!