So right after I hit the "send" button for my last entry, my husband asked me to help him with a plumbing problem. My "help" is acting as "go-fer" and requires waiting for instructions. Such as, "Turn on the water..." "Ok, turn it off." "Turn on the water..." "Ok, turn if off..." "I need my pliers...they're in the garage..." "Ok, turn on the water..." "Ok, turn it off..."

You get the picture. It's a job that gives me plenty of time to think while I'm waiting for direction. And considering that helping solve the problem of a leaking sink was the last thing on my mind when I so wisely concluded that we can control how we spend most of our time, well, my thoughts took a while to get to positive!

And yet, what better place than waiting by the kitchen sink to test out my worldview. My actions and response to circumstances reveal how I view life. Stay with my thought processes for a minute. Though you aren't dealing with the same time issues, this process might help you understand your behavior a little better as well.

168 hours in my week. Helping my husband fix a leaky sink wasn't in my agenda. Interruptions such as a leaky sink give me an opportunity to determine if what I say is a priority - really is. With my mouth I say that loving my husband and reflecting Christ in that love takes priority over every other task before me. When my husband asked me to help him, I could have declined the opportunity to work with him or I could have resentfully accepted the obligation to partner with him in this task, or I could choose to accept this opportunity as God's answer to my morning prayer, "Show me how to love my husband better today than yesterday."

The way I respond to such interruptions is a true picture of what I believe. When we are committed to walking by faith, God's Holy Spirit nudges us when we start going off the track of obedience and reflecting Him. When I respond to His nudge with obedience, His voice is easier to hear the next time. If I ignore Him (and make sure my husband knows how inconvenient it is for me to do such menial tasks), His voice is quieter the next time, and grows more silent with each rebellious attitude.

Getting control of my 168 hours is forcing me to peel back the layers of my worldview. When unplanned tasks disrupt my agenda, I am discovering opportunities to grow in grace and humility by choosing to reflect Christ instead of my own needs or desires. And the Holy Spirit is graciously whispering in my ear gentle reminders of what I say is my life calling - to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.

Remember those overflowing closets and cluttered cabinets? I'm committed to cleaning out one drawer or closet every other day until they're all organized. As I straightened our dresser drawers, I thought long and hard about how they reflect my worldview. And I concluded that I was in the process of refining a perfectly acceptable lifelong value that allowed me to ignore clutter while the children were growing up.

Once I get it clear in my head, I'll share that revelation.

In His Grip,
Sharon