My skin is much healthier if I take care of it and give it lots of moisturising. My face is smoother, my feet are nicer and my hands even have less wrinkles. And when I take time out for renewal on the inside I also have less rough bits ;). So here's a little tip to combine the two.
Daily Moisturising Routine
1. Face
As you moisturise your face, think about the times in the last day where your countenance has not reflected God's, when your lips have not spoken kindness, when you used your looks to bring condemnation rather than encouragement, when you spent too much time looking at something you shouldn't.
Then pray that for the coming day your lips would speak truth and encouragement, your smile would brighten someones day, your eyes will see people as God sees them, that your ears would truly listen to what other's are sharing, that your whole being would reflect Him.
2. Hands
As you moisturise your hands, first concentrate on worship - hands lifted in praise to God. Spend some time reflecting on God's goodness and character. Have a psalm open beside you and pray the words through. Thank God for answered prayer and for His blessings in your life.
Next focus on prayer for others - hands folded in petition to God. Pray for your spouse, kids, parents, siblings, friends and others who come to mind. Memorise some applicable verses to give you specific things to pray for like Philippians 1:9-11.
Now think about service - hands busy at work. If you don't have anything particular planned for your day/week/month, ask God to guide you to an area He would like you to serve in. You may already be doing it, so don't assume otherwise, but ask anyway. Pray that whatever tasks you put your hand to would be as if you were serving Him, that He would bless your work and the people it affects, and remember to give the glory to Him when He accomplishes what He planned.
And then think about the times your hands reach out to hold another's. Whether it be your spouse, your children, or someone in need, pray and ask for God's grace and love to have the time, energy and forethought to be thinking of these special people God has entrusted to your care.
Your Feet
These may just be the most neglected but most used part of your body. Pray as you work on the dry areas, that God would show you the dry areas in your life which need attention. As he reveals things, commit them to prayer and then seek to spend more time on those areas in the coming days. He might show you that your soul is dry and needs more time with him, that you need to put your faith into action more or that you need more time with other Christians.
Think about the general direction of your life. Ask God if its what He wants you to be doing, and if not, that He would show you what needs to change.
Trust him for the daily steps you need to take. Tell him if you are worried or apprehensive about something. Let Him add it to His heavenly 'to do' list. Ask Him to direct you to specific tasks he has set out for you in the coming day. It might be to help a stranger, it might be to make dinner for a friend, it might be to tell someone about Him for the first time.
Apply these steps daily and I guarantee you will feel renewed inside and out and you'll have fewer rough spots than you did before ;)
1 year ago
