Jesus messed up my schedule

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I recently started a new job with new hours, causing me to live a brand new lifestyle.  In doing so, I feel like I have lost my bearings on the "normal routine."  I am trying to figure out when to sleep, when to eat, when to exercise, when to do household chores, etc.  It is not easy to enter into a new chapter of life, despite the blessing of new beginnings.

Regardless of my newly forming schedule, I have always struggled with remaining on top of the little things.  Despite my numerous efforts to be structured and organized, I seem to lack the structure and organization that I so desire.  It amazes me how I can speak in front of a crowd of hundreds without worry, but I cannot seem to stay on top of my laundry.  I can respond to 911 calls and read quietly in the ambulance as my partner speeds down streets to a person at death's door, but ask me to remember where I put my keys and it will take me some time to remember.  It frustrates me that I am wired that way.  I have always envied those who can remain consistently stable in their management of daily tasks.

Last night, I was on my way to the gym when I was reminded that I might have an appointment during the time that I planned to go to the gym.  I rushed home, changed quickly, maintained a reasonable yet rapid rate of speed on the highway and arrived at the place of my appointment only five minutes late.  However, I arrived to find that my appointment was not last night, but it is scheduled for next week.  I was so frustrated that I missed my gym time to go to an appointment that I did not actually have to attend.  When I went home later on, I found my appointment card that indicated my appointment is indeed next week.

When I left the place of my appointment, I had an hour to spare until my next scheduled meeting.  I asked God what I was to do with my spare hour.  I was annoyed with myself, yet I could feel the presence of the Holy Spirit.  When I asked God what to do, He told me quietly in my heart to find a place where I would not be distracted.  I pulled into a parking lot and asked God what He wanted me to do.  The Holy Spirit shared with me that He wanted to spend time with me, but I had not scheduled time to speak with Him.  He spoke 1 Timothy 4:8 to my heart.  "For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things..."  I was so concerned about the gym and my appointments, that I had forgotten to actually spend time with the maker of my body and mind.  God simply wanted to spend time with me, to talk to me about some thoughts He had about my life and my future. He directed me to His word and His company.

God used my weakness (my inability to remember appointments if I do not write them down right away) to bring me to Himself.  He orchestrated the events of my day in perfection to bring me to His throne.  I had not planned to spend time with Him, but because He loves me, He planned to spend time with me.  This true story reminded me of something that my friend Jackie had shared with me recently; God wants me to spend time with Him, for me to experience the fullness of intimately knowing the God of the universe.  I tried to schedule God out, but His people called my people and I had no option but to agree to a meeting.

There are some things that my planner cannot predict or plan - the divine and perfect will of God.  Don't schedule God out of your day.  He will cancel your appointments if you do.  True story.