Training

I’ve decided that I wanted to start teaching our little Luna some tricks. My first thought was to go to instagram for advice. 10 tricks you can teach your dog in 10 minutes. Or 5 tricks to impress your friends. Well, I watched the former and had to laugh. First, she is “training” one of her two dogs and rewarding with treats. The other dog is HIGHLY affronted by the brazen behavior and jumps on the trainer. Next, as she is beginning to film “roll over”, it is quite evident that the dog already understands and knows this command. No wonder it takes ten minutes for her dog, it’s not how long it takes to learn the trick, rather its the length of the video.

Luna is in the process of mastering rolling over. She is a smart one, we laugh a lot with her little antics. I share this first, because to train Luna, I have to spend time daily reviewing what I’ve taught with her and teaching her new things. And man, if that doesn’t preach to me.

My morning routine includes daily study and prayer. It’s been a discipline for quite awhile, but that isn’t the daily part I’m concerned about. It is taking the word of God with me as I walk through my day. Not leaving behind the morning richness when life hits with trials, tribulations, and most importantly, the night watches.

Much of the reason I have the Dwell app is for the night time. I don’t always sleep very well, and this is the time where my mind wonders and spirals. This is where I make all my plans (that I promptly forget when I rise) and review any and all past mistakes and fears. I can do this during the day as well, but it’s easier to distract.

Hebrews 12:1-2

”Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who by faith have testified to the truth of God’s absolute faithfulness], stripping off every unnecessary weight and the sin which so easily and cleverly entangles us, let us run with endurance and active persistence the race that is set before us, [looking away from all that will distract us and] focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith [the first incentive for our belief and the One who brings our faith to maturity], who for the joy [of accomplishing the goal] set before Him endured the cross, disregarding the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God [revealing His deity, His authority, and the completion of His work].“
https://bible.com/bible/1588/heb.12.1-2.AMP

Teach my heart, Lord Jesus. Help me know my place. What I mean by this, I am not the one who can changes hearts. I cannot make someone do anything. So building my scenarios and reviewing how I can fix this or that, continues the spiral in me. Rather than worry, teach me to pray as names and faces come up in my mind.

The power of prayer. The power of laying it all at his feet. Strip off these unnecessary weights that I fumble to keep on. These entanglements that snare me. Help me, Lord, today, to look away. Focus on Jesus, which means taking every thought captive.

No, I am not going to think upon this worry. I turn it over to you in prayer.

So, a subtle reminder for me today. Yes, just as my disciplines in the morning are critical to my mental health. Carrying the word of God into each moment, praying without ceasing and fixing my eyes.

I know I’ve written about this before, and will probably do so again. I need the reminder.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27

”Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.“
https://bible.com/bible/100/1co.9.24-27.NASB1995

Thank you for reading and studying with me.