The Forgotten Invitation

"Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not."

Jeremiah 33:3

I made great preparations.

I cleaned my house up and down and, in every nook, and cranny.  I baked three different kinds of pastries and poured hot water into my tea pot.  Then, I placed a freshly, ironed tablecloth over my table, folded cloth napkins into fans, and placed them onto each plate.  In the center of it all were freshly cut flowers from my garden.

Beautiful.

Now all I needed was my friend to arrive.

I watched the clock as the minutes ticked by.  Quarter past, half past.  My friend was now an hour late for my tea party and I had not received a text or a phone call explaining her delay.

Then it dawned on me: I never sent her an invitation.

Now, did this really happen?  No.  But as I sat down to begin my bible reading and devotion for the day, that thought had entered my mind.

The mechanics of my day had begun just like they normally do.  I woke up, (which is always a good thing!) got out of bed and prepared myself for the day.  I made myself a cup of coffee and walked into the small front room where my prayer chair is placed in the corner with a lap pillow and a quilt made by a dear friend of mine.  My snuggly, faithful dog is already waiting for me there.

But this morning felt a little different as I reached for my journal, prayer sheet and bible.

This morning, I realized how familiar my morning routine had become. The familiarity, the mechanics.

Routines can be good, but they can also become not-so-good.

As I began to pray, I asked God not to allow my mornings with Him to become mechanical.  

I cannot assume my Lord will meet with me here, just because I showed up in my normal spot.

I must invite Him to come and join me as I pray and read His Word.

I must invite Him to show me something new from His Word so that His Word can conform me into His image.

I must invite Him to my bible study every day...

    After all, Jesus invites me to come to Him...

        Every.  Single.  Day...

            But that's just me!