According to Merriam-Webster, “phoning it in” means “doing a task with very low effort, no care, and no passion.”
There are times in my life when I get so tired I find myself “phoning it in” when I get up early to have my quiet time. Times when my mind won’t function to take in one more thought. I hate when that happens, but I also know it will pass.
And during those times, I have to “Phone it in”. There are no resources left within myself to do anything else.
So, I still get myself up at 5:00 a.m. (actually, this morning, I unknowingly turned off my alarm and didn’t wake up until 6:30 a.m.)
I stumble to the kitchen for hot tea, or a cup of decaf coffee, and sit down with my Bible. During those times, I just read the Psalm and Proverbs for that day and call it good. My prayer time is short and sweet and to the point. Many of those days it is just, “Help me Jesus! Take care of my family and friends. In Jesus name, Amen!”
Even when I have to read something over and over again—like five times or more— to get my mind to stop wandering away and to understand what I’m reading, I still get something from doing it, because that is just how God’s Word works.
Take today for example:
- Psalm 3:5 tells me that the LORD watches over me while I sleep. (The rest of the Bible tells me He watches over me when I’m awake as well).
And Proverbs 3 tells me:
- I should have mercy and love truth. (v. 3)
- I should trust in the LORD with my whole heart, to not trust my own understanding, but to trust His wisdom for my life. (vs. 5-6)
- It teaches me to tithe of my first fruits—the best! (v. 9)
- And I should accept correction from the LORD. (v. 11)
- That Wisdom is better than rubies. (v. 15)
- And I will live longer if I have wisdom. (v. 16)
- That having wisdom will give me a better life. (v. 17)
- And that I should make sure I use common sense and discernment. (v. 21)
- And to not withhold something good from someone else, when I have the power to help them, not even for a day. (vs. 27-28)
- And that the curse of the LORD is in the house of wicked people, while He blesses those who do right. (v. 33)
So even if you only have the energy to phone it in, then phone it in with the Psalm and Proverbs of the day. Because… look at the lessons taught from just those 2 chapters.
So have a great week!
And if you only have time for the Psalm and Proverbs for that day, then at least get those in—for a better life.