Push Pause

Week 16, Friday

Jeana Floyd

The Word of God came to Solomon saying, “About this Temple you are building—what’s important is that you live the way I’ve set out for you and do what I tell you, following my instructions carefully and obediently. Then I’ll complete in you the promise I made to David your father.”

1 Kings 6:11-12 (msg)

If you’ve ever built a home or been involved in building a structure of any kind, you understand how all consuming it can be. Just imagine all of the details in building the temple and what an overwhelming responsibility Solomon had gladly taken on. In the book of 1 Kings, we find Solomon busy at building the temple and paying attention to all the details. In the midst of all the building details in chapter 6, verses 11-12 tell us that the Word of the Lord came to Solomon saying: “Concerning this temple which you are building, if you walk in My statutes, execute My judgments, keep all My commandments, and walk in them, then I will perform My word in you, which I spoke to your father David” (nkjv). Eugene Peterson footnotes in The Message that “The resident, not the residence is the main thing.” Then in verse 14, it picks right back up with more of the building details. It’s just as though the Lord spoke to Solomon and said, “Let’s pause here for just a minute.”

It may not be a physical structure we are working on, but we are building the structure of our lives in front of others. In the busyness and craziness of our lives, do what Solomon did: push “pause” and discover today what really matters in your life.

Whatever you find yourself being consumed with today, make a point to remember what’s important. Pause long enough to allow God to speak to your heart about your life and follow His commands. It’s ultimately important in the building of our spiritual lives to remember it’s how we live and what we do for God on a daily basis that really matters.

Dear Lord Jesus, may my thoughts and actions be filled with You today. As I go throughout my day I honor You in the details of my life knowing that the way I live it in front of others can be an example of Your love and grace. In Jesus’ name, amen.