Not long ago I was taken out for nearly a week with an ocular migraine. Migraines are something I have lived with for longer than I care to remember and typically I can head them off at the pass. This particular one was a doozy that had me on the couch either sleeping or doing some mindless knitting. My mindless knitting of choice was a pair of socks with size one needles.
Partway through the week, I let my podcasting partner-in-crime know that we were going to have to delay the show for a day as I all I could do was knit or sleep. (I logged a record number of hours the first three days of that week in sleep) She asked what I was knitting and I sent her a picture of said socks on size one needles. She laughed and said that only I would consider sock knitting on size one double-pointed needles to be mindless when I had a migraine that kept me on the couch.
Really, a Sock?
I’m sure many of you are confused and wondering how one who couldn’t get off the couch as the carpet looked like it was moving could cast on for a sock. Although there are other seasoned out there stitchers that understand exactly what I mean by not needing to actually see the work to do it. It’s all about practice and muscle memory. The knits and the purls and the simple counting helped to keep my hands busy and my mind quiet. If you’ve never knit a pair of socks before you will think the task is daunting; thinking that anyone who thinks that they are a mindless knit is crazy.
Isn’t it like that with so many things we do in life; you have to practice in order for it to feel natural?
Practice Help with Everything
When I shared the photo above on my Instagram page I started typing out a lengthy post about how this concept applies to all sorts of things in your life, including your prayer life. Many years ago the church I was attending did a bible study together that lasted 40 days. The concept behind this is that when you do something for 40 days it develops new habits in your behavior. At first I was skeptical but at the end of those 40 days I found myself reaching for my bible daily more often than I had before the 40 days started.
I’ve heard from so many people that their quiet time with God feels forced and unnatural; it’s going to for a bit. You stumble over prayers not sure if you are doing it right. But if you keep at it and keep the practice up you will find that you are engaging in prayer time when you aren’t even planning it. It just happens naturally. Don’t discouraged if at this season in your life you are being pulled in what feels like a million different directions; He knows your heart and how you feel.
I hope this day finds you well and that you are giving yourself the grace and forgiveness that God so freely gives us.
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