Are your lockdown days blurring into one? Do you feel like life’s on pause, yet also racing by?
The American writer Annie Dillard wrote,
‘How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.’
So here goes with some suggestions about staying focused on God each moment through five phases of the lockdown day.
#1 The morning re-boot
I remember a staff discussion at a previous church. What was our first thought on waking?
The Rector would say to himself, ‘It’s another day of adventure on Planet Earth with Jesus Christ.’ Another colleague reminded himself that Jesus could return that very day.
Then a team member spoke for those of us, who were beginning to feel slightly inadequate: ‘To be honest, I hear my alarm, groan, and think to myself, “Agh! Surely it can’t be morning already!”’
We can’t help our first waking thought. But we need a strategy to seize the next one for God. Try memorizing a short Bible phrase and make it your go-to reference point for that crucial second thought. How about,
‘His mercies are new every morning; great is his faithfulness’? (Lamentations 3:22-23)
Or if you need a jump start, here’s a good line:
‘Wake up, O sleeper, and rise from the dead and Christ will shine on you.’ (Ephesians 5:14)
It’s hope that gets us going in the morning. And with God around, there is always hope. So get up, get clean, get dressed and get on, in sure hope that he has plans for your lockdown day.
And find a few precious minutes in these first waking hours to read the Bible and to pray. Look out for another blog post on how to establish and develop that habit in your life.
#2 Listening to the news
Your favorite radio station, the TV breakfast news, the paper – before long, the outside world comes flooding into your consciousness. It’s vital to put a sandbag at the doorway of your soul.
Here’s how. Keep this mighty biblical statement in your mind throughout the news: The Lord reigns.
It’s certainly important to be informed. But if we let national and international events govern our minds and emotions, we’ll forget this most basic truth. Again: The Lord reigns.
He knows everything, he holds everything and he will judge everything. You are safe in his hands. So don’t fear what others fear or complain when they complain.
And – whilst we give thanks for human solutions like the vaccine – make sure your hopes are fixed on God above all.
#3 The daily grind
You’re up and informed. Now what? It depends:
Are you in paid employment; or home-schooling your children; or retired and missing your usual routine; or kicking your heels on furlough; or without a job and anxious about the future?
Whoever you are, make a plan! A plan is ‘a net for catching days’ (that’s Annie Dillard, again).
Yours plan might be on paper on just in your head. In any case, here’s a verse that can give shape and significance to every scheduled activity:
‘Whatever you do, whether in word of deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus…’ (Colossians 3:17)
You’re due to take part in a Zoom meeting, start a jigsaw puzzle, cook dinner or go out for exercise? As you start each task, train yourself to pray, ‘Father, show me how to glorify Jesus in this activity.’
Then set about it, conscious that Jesus is right there with you as you feed the cats or (try to) explain long division to your children. And when you shop or make a cup of tea, do it as if catering for Jesus himself.
#4 Reaching for the evening comforts
Many of us have an evening pleasure that glows and beckons on the horizon of our lock down days.
It’s lovely to collapse in front of a Netflix series. (I restrain myself from enthusing about South Korean dramas). Perhaps you reach for chocolate or a glass of wine?
We can seize even these moments for God. At the very least, we must honor him by avoiding excess and refusing illegitimate ‘comforts’ like pornography. More significantly, this is the moment to point our hearts towards what they truly need most.
No substance or distraction can satisfy the hunger and thirst of our souls. So as you take your evening comfort, remember Jesus’ words:
‘I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never go hungry and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’ (John 6:35)
In other words, let every lockdown treat point you to the ultimate satisfaction we can only find in Jesus.
And in case you are wondering if your pleasure means more to you than him, here’s the test: are you willing to ‘fast’ from it?
#5 Winding down and switching off
When we sleep, we are oblivious to our surroundings, helplessly vulnerable and entirely unproductive. Who will guard us? Psalm 4:8 gives the reassuring answer:
‘I lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.’
Do you have trouble sleeping? Lockdown hasn’t made it any easier, reducing exercise and increasing worry.
Maybe it would help to think of bedtime as an exercise in faith and trust. Try reading a few verses of a Psalm and praying the Lord’s Prayer before you turn off your light.
As I curl myself into fetal position for the night, I like to remind myself of Psalm 4:8. It’s a sort of pillow to relax into.
In stressful times, I make a mental list of my worries and physically hand them, as it were, to God. He can carry them while we sleep.
And if you do wake in the night, don’t fret. Your Father is awake too and knows where you are. So remember him through the watches of the night and be at peace (Psalm 63:6).
