My Mammaw was famous for her sweet tea... at least to my brother and me. Sweet tea was rarely to be found in the house of our childhood because my mom (wisely) chose to keep the temptation of this sweet nectar out of the regular drinking rotation. Therefore, sweet tea was aptly referred to as "Mammaw's Tea," because we only had it at her house in Mississippi. Not until my teenage years did I learn that Mammaw's Tea was really just plain ole sweet tea. (Great secret, Mom!)
Mammaw is no longer with us, but my mom inherited her mother's art of making amazing sweet tea. However, it remained a mystery to me. For years, I tried to imitate their tea and failed miserably with every attempt! Mine never tasted quite right... until I discovered their secret: put the sweetener in first. Doing so allows the sugar (or sweetener) to dissolve fully and, therefore, infuse the hot tea and water as it is poured into the pitcher. I'm sure there are other great methods to prepare sweet tea, but in my experience, this order leads to perfection every. single. time.
Making tea recently reminded me that my life needs to mirror this method.
What in the world am I talking about?
"How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" Psalm 119:103 ESV
I need Jesus to be first. I need Him to be first in my heart, in my desires, in my relationships, in my priorities, in my everything. To help align my heart in this order, I need His word and time alone with Him to be the first part of my day. Put the sweetener in first.
As life's demands and responsibilities have escalated, this time with the Lord has become increasingly more precious, appreciated, and needed, but also increasingly more difficult to maintain. Kids wake early. Dog and kids get sick. Smoke alarms remind you to check their batteries at 4am, or toddlers throw a party in their cribs from 2:30-5am, thus enticing me to turn off the alarm. I oversleep. My unending to-do list takes precedent over my devotional time. Whatever my excuse or legitimate distraction, I've come to see that whatever I pour in to my day first tends to flavor everything that is poured into me throughout my day. It sets the tone for how I will interact, respond, and receive the day God gives me as it unfolds, which is all the more reason for me to apply the sweet tea secret to how I order my days, as best I can. Then my day, my heart, and my mind are sweetened and flavored with His truth and by the time I've had with Him, and not overpowered by the bitter, painful, and frustrating moments poured into my world on any given day.
"A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul..." Proverbs 13:19 ESV
Mammaw would be proud to know her method of making sweet tea has reminded me of more eternal truths. May you and I both seek the Lord on how our hearts and souls' deepest desired can be fulfilled in Christ. May we discover anew just how very sweet it is to be in the presence of our King knowing that in doing so we will discover the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need as Paul writes of in Philippians 4:12-13. May His truth sweeten even the bitterest parts of our hearts and lives.
Put the Sweetener in first, my friends... and I pray it is so sweet to your soul.
In Christ's love and grace,
Jessica
Questions to consider:
- Are you making time with the Lord a priority? When is the best part of your day for you to spend time in God's word?
- How might you have more consistent time in God's word? Do you need to rearrange your schedule or let the Lord erase something from it?
- Do you find the bitter struggles (daily or monumental!) stealing the joy you are meant to have in Christ? How does or how might daily time in God's word help?
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