Hit Upside the Head

Okay, so how many times does God have to literally smack me "upside the head" in order to finally surrender my problems to Him? Last night after putting James down to sleep (after a bath, a big 6 oz. bottle, no swaddling, and with his favourite blankie), I read my chapter for Bible Study in Joyce Meyer's book "Battlefield of the Mind". It was a completely perfect chapter, and basically I want to re-write it here for you to read. It was Chapter 4 I think, called "Little by Little". In a nutshell the book is about renewing your mind, and learning to think positively. The statement that stuck out most to me in this chapter was something like, God does not condemn us, even when we make mistakes. He does not want me to feel guilt, anger, failure, etc. I need to say to myself daily "I'm going to be fine - today will be a GREAT day". I put this phrase on a post-it note next to the microwave. I want to think this way every day, instead of getting all anxious about the "bad" day or "bad" night I'm about to experience. Needless to say this chapter was exactly what I needed to hear, and I spent a long time in prayer about it last night.

So, we put James down at 8:30pm and went to bed. At 11:45 he woke up, and we were about to go in to feed him when we realized he was making quiet happy sounds - not crying. We peeked into his room, and he was happily playing with his blankie! We crawled back into bed, giggling at his happy noises. Eventually, he fell back asleep until 1:30am! I went in to feed him, and he fell right back to sleep. He woke up next at 5:30am, and Ryan fed him. He woke up again at 8:00am, but was happily playing quietly in his crib until 9:00am! WOW! That was a great night, and today I feel 100% renewed - and ready to face the next week. All it takes is one good night, you know? James has been an extremely little happy camper all morning too. We had lunch at the local Café with my mother-in-law, and he was simply a little social butterfly. He's also gone down perfectly for his naps. Anyway, I'm going to try repeating the same pattern tonight, and see what happens. I'm not going to count my chickens before they hatch, however, I am going to THINK about tonight being a GREAT night. "I'm going to be fine - tonight will be a GREAT night..." Thanks Lord, for the hit upside the head. I needed that.

If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You'll get his help, and won't be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who "worry their prayers" are like wind-whipped waves. Don't think you're going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open.

James 1:5 (The Message)