Don’t Let It Get Cold

My husband likes to eat grits for breakfast a couple of times a week. For anyone who hasn’t tried them, ​grits​ are a warm, comforting dish made from ground corn that’s simmered into a creamy texture—something like polenta’s Southern cousin. We love adding seasonings and beans to make them hearty enough for breakfast.

For years, I cooked the grits for him to help keep him on schedule in the mornings. But here’s the thing about grits. You have to eat them right away.

If you let them sit too long, they cool down, harden like a brick, and there’s just no bringing them back. More than once, my husband wasn’t quite ready to eat when I made them, and by the time he got to the kitchen, the spoon was practically standing up in the bowl! We’d laugh, but I’d usually have to start over with a fresh batch.

It reminded me that ​some things simply aren’t meant to be put off​. How often does God gently nudge us to spend a few quiet minutes with Him, but we think, I’ll do it later.

Later, after I answer these emails. Later, after I finish the laundry. Later, after I scroll through my phone for just a minute. Before we know it, the day is over.

God is still there, of course. His love hasn’t cooled. But our hearts can. We become distracted, hurried, and less sensitive to His voice.

Jesus often withdrew to quiet places to pray. He didn’t fit time with His Father into the cracks of His schedule. He made it a priority.

I’ve found that the sweetest moments with God usually aren’t the rushed ones squeezed in at the end of a busy day. They’re the ones when I respond to His invitation right away.

Just like a warm bowl of grits, some things are best enjoyed while they’re fresh.

So if you’ve been sensing God nudging you to spend a little time with Him today, don’t wait until “later.”

Pour a cup of coffee. Open your Bible. Sit quietly for a few minutes. Don’t let the moment get cold.

“Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” — James 4:8