The Secret to Success

So today I learned the meaning of the verse “seek First the Kingdom of God and all things will be added unto you”. I was getting the girls down for their second nap and for some reason I actually had energy. It had been a really good day. One of those days that you look back on and are suddenly struck by how everything just worked out. The babies weren’t overly fussy. I organized under my bathroom sink. (Mainly I threw out a bunch of 20 year old make-up. Yes, you read that right. And no, I’m not a hoarder. I just kept thinking one day I would go back and dig all the lipstick out that was below the rim so I could use it. Yes, I really am that cheap. But you know it really was kind of a release to just admit that I won’t ever do that, the lipstick was probably chemically decomposing (or something like that) and just toss the stuff. I digress…) I also hung out with my teens and had no major throw downs with my 14 year old boy. It was a good day. Oh, and as if that weren’t enough. We went to the thrift store on base and I found Sperry’s for $2, an entire set of these really cute glass plates and saucers for 50 and 25 cents each and some clothes. I spent $38 and didn’t buy one thing over $2 just to let you know how much I found. 

So what does all this have to do with the Kingdom of God? Well…everything. This morning I woke up at 4:30am. You read that right. I hated it too. But I felt led to get up and pray. So I drug myself out of bed and knelt down - not because I was pious but this way I could lay my head down and kind of…ahem…sleep while I prayed for a moment. And, eventually got all the way up, drank enough coffee to wake me up from my sleep-induced coma and really got to praying. I spent a quiet time (of sorts) until the girls woke up at 6:30am, telling myself I would nap at my first opportunity. But then I just didn’t need it. I was less stressed, more energetic and a better me. 

It didn’t dawn on me until late in the afternoon as I was reflecting on the day that it just might not be a coincidence. Prior to pregnancy and babies when I used to be a single mom with 5 kids in the house and life was a lot less chaotic (LOL!!!) I would get up really early to pray. My days were better when I did that. I worked full time as a teacher in a junior high and came home to a bunch a dimple-faced darlings but somehow found time to get up and spend time with the Lord. Don’t get me wrong I haven’t stopped praying or reading The Word but often I squeeze it in during the girl’s first nap so I can get a little more shut-eye in the morning. Maybe there really is something to seeking first His Kingdom.