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Daily Devotion

8/31/2015

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Proverbs 31 Ministries
Glynnis Whitwer

"Are You Busy or a Busybody?"


"We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies."
2 Thessalonians 3:11 (NIV)

Busy and I have a complicated relationship.

There were years when I was too busy. Fast-forward was my mode of operation, and my family got lost in the wake. Looking back, I regret many decisions that kept us all on the go!

After a near meltdown, things had to be different. I made significant changes to balance my schedule. I stepped out of volunteer positions, cut back my hours at work and learned to honor the Sabbath. I still kept a productive pace, but this time it was healthier. Yet when people commented on how much I got done, there was this bit of shame that crept into my heart.

Were their observations innocent or a veiled suggestion, with a hint of disapproval, that I still work too much? Why did I still feel so guilty about my level of work?

Was being busy bad?

In my search to understand the truth about busyness, God led me to our key verse for today from 2 Thessalonians 3:11: "We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies."

This chapter as a whole shines a completely different light on being busy. It elevates it. Here’s what Paul (the author of 2 Thessalonians) says just before our key verse: "We were not idle when we were with you … We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate" (2 Thessalonians 3:7b, 9, NIV).

So if busy isn’t the real problem, what is? In this passage, we get a hint at a potential problem: being a "busybody."

Busybodies can look busy, but in reality they are busy with things that don’t concern them. As a result, they neglect the work they should be doing.

This truth cut right to my heart. When I take on responsibilities that aren’t mine to assume, I’m ineffective in what I am called to do. As a result, my schedule gets chaotic, and the people I love suffer from my too-busy life.

Here’s another truth. The Bible doesn’t say we need to be busy all the time. We need God’s wisdom to know when to work and when to stop. Jesus modeled rest as well as hard work. He knew when to draw away from the crowds, from ministry, from work and press pause in the middle of the day. Jesus also modeled honoring the Sabbath as a complete day of rest and honor to God.

The Bible shows us how to be busy in a healthy way. We can learn to care for our priorities and not take on those assigned to others. We are not slaves to being over busy. We can trust God to help us get our work done in six days so we can honor His command to rest.

When I realized my life was out of my control, it took time to rein it back in. There was plenty of time in prayer asking God to show me my best choices, my priorities, my work. It was a yearlong process of stepping out of wrong commitments and recommitting to right ones.

For me that meant cutting out evening activities and nighttime phone calls so I could be available for my family. It meant saying no to responsibilities I’d done for years, but consistently added stress, like singing on the worship team Sunday mornings. It meant working at home so I had flexible hours.

Getting control of our schedules isn’t always easy, but it is possible. I’m still learning to rest, and I still struggle with keeping my schedule in balance. The good news is God is faithful to help define my priorities for this season. Now I’m not ashamed of being busy in the right times with a focus on the right things.

Father, thank You for showing me that I’m wired to work in the exact way You planned. Help me guard that wiring and not take on more than I should. I want to be a woman who lives Your priorities for my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:

Titus 2:4-5, "Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God." (NIV)

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Daily Devotion

8/28/2015

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Proverbs 31 Ministries
Kenisha Bethea

"The Healing Power of Kindness"


"On hearing this, Jesus said, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: "I desire mercy, not sacrifice." For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.’"
Matthew 9:12-13 (NIV)


For several years I struggled with daily headaches. Sometimes mild. Sometimes debilitating.

The headaches affected every area of my life. I hesitated to make long-range plans with friends for fear of having to cancel. I hesitated to make day-of plans because by 6 p.m. I could be holed up in a dark room with only enough strength to lie down and whisper a prayer for relief.

I couldn’t even serve in church the way my heart desired. And although I loved my job, it was a chore to get out of bed and get the day started.

I’d grown accustomed to the pain, so I lived with it until one day my boss sweetly bossed me into a doctor’s appointment. She even offered to go with me.

It turned out the headaches were a small symptom to a big problem that was going on internally. My doctor immediately changed my diet and started me on several natural supplements. Some weeks I did great, but most weeks I struggled. Big time.

One day I didn’t take my supplements because I left them at home. Another day I would eat a slice of cheesecake because … well, it’s cheesecake. Then I would replay my shortcomings in my mind and be terrified for my next doctor’s visit.

Each week I just knew it was the week my doctor would say: "Kenisha, I’m sorry, but I can’t continue to work with you. Come back and see me when you’re ready to get better."

One day, on the verge of tears, I walked into my doctor’s office and fessed up. I was shocked when he said: "Kenisha, you are making a lot of changes all at once. It’s okay if you messed up. You’ll get there, but cut yourself some slack. We will help you."

Later, as I reflected on his words, I wondered, Why on earth didn’t he bash me, or at least give me a stern lecture about the molecular structure of sugar and its effect on the human body? He’s the picture of health and he’s so knowledgeable. He really could’ve let me have it.

That’s when the words of our key verse came to mind: " … It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick" (Matthew 9:12b).

Jesus said these words to the religious leaders of His day who hated that He and His disciples spent time with sinners and tax collectors — the latter of which had a terrible reputation for being dishonest. Even one of Jesus’ disciples, Matthew, had been a tax collector before he left that life to follow Jesus.

Later that evening, I read Matthew 9, verses 12 and 13 together. I sat and cried. Instead of sacrificing me on the altar of his knowledge and experience, my doctor chose to reflect Jesus, the Great Physician, with his kindness toward me. It was that kindness that left me encouraged and feeling better about my journey to health.

The truth of this verse is something Matthew knew then, and we can know today: Before Christ, we were spiritually ill and dying. But when Jesus came into our lives He healed our sin-sick souls. His kindness melted our hardened hearts. He showed us The Way, because if we could do it ourselves, we wouldn’t need the One who is called the Great Physician.

Father God, thank You that You have never turned me away, but instead You sent Your son Jesus to show me The Way to You. Help me be patient with myself as You continue Your work in me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:

Isaiah 53:5, "But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed." (ESV)

Romans 2:4, "Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?" (NIV)

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Daily Devotion

8/27/2015

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Coffee for Your Heart
Holley Gerth

"You're Stronger Than You Feel Right Now"















Lie Our Hearts Hear: "I can't do this."

Truth Our Hearts Need:
"I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength"
(Philippians 4:13).


Sometimes what's in front of us seems impossible. The hill is too steep. The test is too hard. The diagnosis is too discouraging. But Jesus says to us, "Whatever I ask you to go through, I will give you the strength to do."

When we're weary, He's our power.

When we're afraid, He's our courage.

When we're uncertain, He's our security.

Nothing is too much for us because nothing we will ever face is bigger than the God who lives within us. He already knows what we're going to face today. And He's already promised us we're going to beat it--no matter what.

XOXO

Holley Gerth


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Daily Devotion

8/26/2015

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Proverbs 31 Ministries
Karen Ehman

"When Your To-Do List
Makes You Hyperventila
te"


"Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically, as something done for the Lord and not for men, knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord. You serve the Lord Christ."
Colossians 3:23-24 (HCSB)

I grabbed my mango-mint iced tea, a spiral notepad and pen and headed to my backyard deck.

Settling myself into a lounge chair, I began to tackle the chore that was before me: writing out my to-do list for the week. Although my notepad was whimsical and my pen was laden with bright purple ink, these organizational objects couldn’t cancel the dread I felt about having to think it through, write it down and then execute the many tasks before me.

My life as a wife, mom, worker, daughter, neighbor, church member and friend brings me much delight. I get to watch my son play football, help my adult daughter look for her first house and work on projects with others that I love and believe in.

However, my life also brings me lots of "to-dos": Purchases to make. Closets to organize. Paperwork to complete. Phone calls to return. Research to be done. Pots and pans to scrub. Kids to shuttle. Parents to check on. And on and on it goes.

Sometimes — when I get my list all scrawled out on paper — instead of feeling energized with a game plan, my emotions go into panic mode. I’m almost afraid to look at the list since it seems monumental. While most of the tasks in and of themselves aren’t too difficult or time-consuming, when viewed as a whole, they seem like a massive mountain I’ll never be able to scale.

And then, on top of the panic, I also start to pout. My mind starts looping the "poor me" soundtrack that results from just looking at my list.

Poor me … I have to mop the floors.

Poor me … I have paperwork to finish.

Poor me … I have to drive and get groceries.

Poor me … I have to run my son to practice.

Poor me … I have to work on the computer for a few hours to finish this project.

Poor, poor, pitiful me!

Today’s key passage addresses this "poor me" mentality by giving us a fresh perspective as we go about our work: "Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically, as something done for the Lord and not for men …"

Three words jump up at me as I stop and ponder this verse:

1. Whatever.

Whatever I do. Not just the tasks I enjoy, or the work that brings me recognition or the duties that I find also fun, but WHATEVER I do is to be done …

2. Enthusiastically.

Enthusiastically is defined as "done lively and with great interest; wholeheartedly, sincerely, energetically and earnestly." Hmmm … I’m not so sure that describes my attitude as I tackle the "whatevers" on my to-do list. How about you?

3. Lord.

It is the Lord himself we are serving as we enthusiastically check off our "whatevers." Not a husband. Or kids. Not a boss or the committee chairperson. We are serving Jesus Christ Himself as we work.

How about we hit the re-start button when it comes to taking our lists from "to-do" to "It’s done!"? Let’s not panic. Or pout. Rather, let’s loop thoughts through our minds Colossians 3:23 style.

In other words:

I don’t have to clean my house. I get to clean my house — because I have a place to call my own, while many are homeless or displaced. And I am serving the Lord Jesus as I clean.

I don’t have to fill out this team permission slip. I get to fill it out — because my child is healthy enough for physical activity and has caring, volunteer coaches who give of their time. And I am serving the Lord Jesus as I write.

I don’t have to drive and get groceries. I get to do this errand — because we have enough money to purchase provisions and we own a car, so I don’t have to walk. And I am serving the Lord Jesus as I shop.

We don’t have to. We get to. And thanks be to God that we do.

Father, thank You for all the to-dos on my list. Help me always remember that I am working for You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:

2 Chronicles 15:7, "But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded." (NIV)


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Daily Devotion

8/25/2015

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(In)Courage
home for the hearts of women

Lisa-Jo Baker

"This One Is for All Us Expert Worriers"

I’m a lifelong Sunday School girl, and I grew  up singing the old hymn, “Great Is Thy Faithfulness." There’s one line that lingers in my head these days as the mornings come crashing down on me, and with them that old, familiar ache of fear, or worry, of not being able to control the future:

“Morning by morning new mercies I see . . .”

I was thinking about that line when I woke up today.

Most mornings when I wake up and stumble to the bathroom to put in my contact lenses and step on and off the scale and then head to the kitchen to figure out how to prepare breakfast without using the leaky sink, I’m not thinking about Christ’s mercies.

I’m thinking about my to-do list.

I’m thinking about my worries and how my hair has more gray in it than I remember from last month. I’m thinking about what we’re going to do if it turns out there isn’t actually a spot for my daughter in the preschool we’re counting on once fall rolls around. I’m googling youtube videos to figure out how to fix the leak underneath our kitchen sink.

My mornings don’t involve a list of God’s mercies, they involve a list of my own worries.

I’m very good at it.

I’m an expert at the quiet panic that paces around my insides as the boys rush by and our little girl tells me she misses her friends.

I can rattle off all my very specific fears and worries without even having to think very hard.

There are all the boxes we still haven’t unpacked after our move last month. The shed and the kitchen projects I’m not sure when we’ll get around to tackling. The new school my boys are starting in less than three weeks and all the school supplies I haven’t bought yet.

There’s the old white minivan with the flat tires that require pumping every morning — the same minivan who long ago said goodbye to any hope of air-conditioning. There are the fish ponds we’re not sure yet how to take care of and the mouse who must have moved in while we were on vacation because the brand new bathroom mat I bought has long shreds chewed off it — shreds that now trail up and down the halls.

I can sit in the house of my dreams and miss it all because I’m so busy counting worries.

And then that old hymn rolls around in my head and today, instead of obsessing over the sink, I start to hum the tune I’ve known since childhood. And it reminds me of the God who has loved me since long before that.

“Great is Thy faithfulness!” “Great is Thy faithfulness!”
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided –
“Great is Thy faithfulness,” Lord, unto me!


That “All I have needed” part is what makes me stop. I come to a complete standstill. Right there in the middle of my kitchen with the slightly slanted floor.

Do I really believe that?

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided.

Do I live like I really believe that?

I look out the window, and I can hear the cicadas. There’s a lawnmower in the distance and three very loud kids right here in front of me. And slowly another list starts to take shape in my mind.

These kids are my kids, and they're growing up into the most fascinating tiny humans. They share their weird and quirky interests with me. They invite me into their fears, and they trust me with their insecurities. At night they lie back to back with me just because it makes them feel safe.

Just last night we built Zoe’s very first big-girl bed. She’s been sleeping in the same crib her big brother first used; it’s made the trek with us from South Africa to Michigan to Virginia and now to Maryland. And last night we moved it out of her room and I watched her climb into the bed that will rock her to sleep every night between now and teenagerhood.

I add that to the list of God’s faithfulness.

Along with the stories my boys tell of new friends at soccer camp. The neighbors who fed our fish for two weeks while we were gone. The brand new friend who comes over to fix my sink (turns out the pipe wasn’t broken, just a washer was loose). So, “learning basic home maintenance” goes on the list too.

And, of course, there are the big things like a home and clothes and warm food. But I’m waking up more to the little things — the ordinary glory of kids’ backpacks and their excitement at finding their feet in this neighborhood. Walks to the mailbox holding onto a tiny hand. Fresh chocolate chip cookies. Bike rides. New markers. Coloring books. Clothes warm out of the dryer.

His faithfulness is new every morning in a hundred different ways. On the stormy days as well as the mild ones. It’s the one thing that doesn’t change. 

I so desperately want to become an expert at believing that.


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Daily Devotion

8/24/2015

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Proverbs 31 Ministries
Leah DiPascal

"I Have No Idea What I'm Doing"


"Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled."
Romans 15:4 (NLT)


When I was in my 20s, I wanted a mentor in the worst way. As an insecure wife and inexperienced mom, every day came with new struggles. Each challenge confirmed my ongoing mental monologue: I have no idea what I’m doing.

I needed someone a little older, wiser and confident to help me navigate some of these never-ending challenges. Someone I could call and ask, "How do you do this?" or "Have you ever experienced that?" without being judged.

Through the years God was faithful to bring wiser women who graciously agreed to mentor me. They shared valuable truths on how to manage a career, be a dedicated wife, the must-haves of mothering and most importantly … how to experience an authentic, personal relationship with the Lord.

They were living, breathing gifts from God sent to a gal who desperately needed real-life answers.

Over the last decade, I’ve paid it back by mentoring younger women in my own circle of influence. Some were searching for Mr. Happily-Ever-After. A few were transitioning from newlywed bliss to marriage-plus-career reality. And others needed sound advice on how to raise their kids without going crazy. Hmm … been there, done that.

In both seasons — being mentored and being a mentor — I’ve learned much from these women. They are smart, hard working, gracious and tenderhearted. And, they still need godly advice just like me.

If mentoring is valuable, why are so many women missing out on this wonderful experience?

What would happen if we embraced each season of life looking to mentor others with the same excitement and tenacity we’d expect from a woman who agreed to mentor us?

Mentoring is not only for the young. It’s for each season of every woman’s life. Maybe you’ve been looking for a godly woman to come alongside you. Here are three things you can do while you wait:

1. Pray for your soon-to-be mentor. Even though you don’t know her yet, God does. She may be older and wiser, but that doesn’t mean she’s exempt from life’s challenges.

2. Be willing to mentor someone else. You’ve got gifts and talents. So why not use them by blessing a woman who’s also longing for a mentoring relationship.

3. Dig into Scripture and let women of the Bible mentor you. Their lives were fascinating and their challenges real!

Here are a few to study: Sarah, Rachel, Priscilla, Mary Magdalene, Ruth, Esther, Elizabeth, Anna, Susanna and Mary the mother of Jesus.

These women were smart, loyal and undeniably bold. They generously gave their time, talents and resources. Some even stepped into life-threatening situations, because of their faith and dedication to God.

I’m grateful these women and their mentoring moments were captured and encapsulated throughout the pages of Scripture for us.

Friend, regardless of your age or stage in life, mentoring is always available to you!

Lord, thank You for sharing these women of faith in Scripture, so I can be mentored through their stories. Help me reach out and be willing to mentor others. No matter what season of life I’m in, You will always be my ultimate Mentor. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:

Hebrews 13:7, "Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and follow the example of their faith." (NLT)

Titus 2:3-5, "Similarly, teach the older women to live in a way that honors God. They must not slander others or be heavy drinkers. Instead, they should teach others what is good. These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children, to live wisely and be pure, to work in their homes, to do good, and to be submissive to their husbands. Then they will not bring shame on the word of God." (NLT)

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Daily Devotion

8/21/2015

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Proverbs 31 Ministries
Liz Curtis Higgs

"And God said, 'Ta-da!'"


"For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the afflicted ones with salvation."
Psalm 149:4 (NASB)


Feeling less than likeable? A far cry from beautiful? Today’s encouragement from God’s Word might be just what you need to change your view.

First, the Lord takes pleasure in you. He doesn’t simply accept you, forgive you or put up with you. He delights in your company. He celebrates your place in His kingdom. "As a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you" (Isaiah 62:5b, NIV).

What about your family history, your personality, your popularity? People worry about those things, but not the Lord.

So, your education, your resume, your bank balance? Impressive or not, none of that changes how God values you.

Even your behavior doesn’t alter His kind affection for you. His love is unconditional and irrevocable. God doesn’t love you because you’re wealthy or clever or good. He loves you because you’re His. "See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!" (1 John 3:1a, NIV).

Even more good news? The Lord says you are beautiful. Not just slightly attractive or marginally appealing. Beautiful. You are lovely to look at because "God created mankind in his own image" (Genesis 1:27a, NIV). And that includes you.

As today’s verse, Psalm 149:4b, tells us, "He will beautify the afflicted ones with salvation." You are beautiful beyond description when you’re covered in His grace.

We are endlessly obsessed with our earthly appearance, doing everything possible to look our best, to measure up, to please others. Yet invariably, we look in the mirror and are disappointed with the results.

But not God. He knew exactly what He was doing the day He knit you together in your mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13).

Some women are quick to say, "Maybe God was pleased when He made me, but I’m not sure He’s happy with how I turned out …"

Listen. God knows your first breath and your last (Psalm 139:16), He counts every hair on your head (Matthew 10:30), and He stores all your tears in a bottle (Psalm 56:8). Our God? He is not surprised or disappointed with how you turned out. He loved you then, He loves you still and He will love you forever.

We get in trouble when we compare ourselves to others, always finding someone who is younger, taller, thinner, more athletic, more graceful … the list goes on.

But God does not compare. God does not clone. Each of us is a unique work of His creation. You are God’s definition of beautiful for you, beloved. Are you ready to see yourself as God sees you?

Here’s a simple exercise I’ve been teaching women for ages. Every morning, stand in front of a mirror (fully dressed, of course), stretch up your arms with joy, and say it like you mean it: "Ta-da!"

Feels good, yes? Looks good, too. You can’t say it without smiling, which always improves things. "Ta-da!" is the LRV (the Lizzie Revised Version) of "God saw all that he had made, and it was very good" (Genesis 1:31a, NIV).

We’ve all known beautiful women who, when they opened their mouths, quickly lost their appeal. And we’ve also known average-looking women who love the Lord with all their hearts, and it shows on their radiant faces. Gorgeous.

When the light of Christ shines through us, we are utterly transformed. That’s the real story, the hope of glory, the ultimate "Ta-da!"

Father God, many of us have struggled with our appearance or sense of worth all of our lives. Let this be the day we turn away from the world’s lies and embrace the truth of Your Word and the beauty of Your Son. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:

Psalm 139:14, "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." (NIV)

Ecclesiastes 3:11a, "He has made everything beautiful in its time." (NIV)

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Daily Devotion

8/20/2015

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Coffee for Your Heart
Holley Gerth

"You're Not Invisible"


Lie Our Hearts Hear: "I'm invisible."

Truth Our Hearts Need: "The eyes of the Lord are . . . on those whose hope is in His unfailing love" (Psalm 33:18).

Sometimes it can seem like the spotlight of life shines on everyone but us. She has more Facebook likes. He has more accomplishments. They get far more attention. But God gently whispers to our hearts, "I see you."

He notices what we do when no one else is looking. He cheers us on when we take the next step of obedience. He cares when that silent tear slips down our face. He watches over us while we sleep.

We are never invisible. Instead we are incredibly valuable to the God whose eyes are always on us.

XOXO
Holley Gerth


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Daily Devotion

8/19/2015

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Proverbs 31 Ministries
Glynnis Whitwer

"Who's Setting Your Priorities?"


"If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you."
James 1:5 (NIV)

Could my cell phone affect my to-do list? Could this little bit of gadgetry redirect my day, causing me to miss God’s best for me? I think so, and here’s why.

Growing up, we had a house phone. Just one.There was no call-waiting beep or answering machine. And of course, no email or texting. So if you wanted to reach me, you had to keep calling until you got through. Or maybe head to my house and actually knock on my door. Quite frustrating when "someone" spent hours talking to a friend!

Basically, the burden to communicate was on the person with the message to share.

Today the responsibility to communicate has shifted. No longer is it your burden to reach me; all you do is type-type-type a message, hit send and all the responsibility floats through cyberspace and lands firmly on me.

Multiply this by every which way people can reach me, and before I even wake up, I’m behind.

This shift has silently affected all of us. A typical day starts with checking some sort of communication device to see who might have emailed, posted or texted. Then, before we begin to handle what’s most important to us, our day begins by responding to what’s most important to others.

Without a concerted effort to stop this pull, we are drawn into the day’s rushing current like a tiny raft on a whitewater river. And rather than being proactive, our days are spent in reactive mode.

Sound familiar? If so, you’ve probably also experienced the too-long to-do list that comes with it. After we’ve given the best of our time and energy to others, there’s little left to address God’s priorities for us. Consequently we put-off, delay and procrastinate our priorities.

After years of shortchanging myself and my family, and often dishonoring God with disobedience, I realized I had things upside down! Things that mattered least replaced things that mattered most in my schedule. And work that would make the greatest impact on my life often fell to the bottom of my lists, then transferred to the next list until I either completed it with a fraction of my ability or abandoned it entirely.

Sometimes it’s nearly impossible to figure out our best work. It sounds so easy to say, "Identify your priorities, and do those first." However, when we face multiple demands we can often feel helpless. And helplessness can lead us to escape, avoid or numb.

When those feelings start to overtake me and I don’t know what to do, rather than make a self-defeating choice, it’s time to press pause. Sometimes, the best thing to do is nothing … except seek direction and wisdom from the One who knows what our best is.

Given the chance, others will set our priorities for us. Yet God specifically has a calling for each of us that will only come from Him. To discern this, we need

wisdom. Without God’s wisdom, we make decisions on facts and feelings. And the fact that I have 100 emails to answer and feel overwhelmed does not mean it’s wise to do so now.

To find wisdom, I need to silence the demands of many, to hear the commands of One.

God is faithful, and His Word promises we can receive wisdom. In fact, it’s a gift from God. Here is what James 1:5 says, "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you."

As my life becomes more interconnected with others, my priorities are harder to identify. There will always be new demands rising to the tops of my to-do list, giving me reasons to delay tackling my own priorities.

There is hope. When we take our tiny raft out of the raging river, and sit on the banks with our Heavenly Father, He will give us wisdom for what to do next. Sometimes it’s answering an email, but it might be something else He has planned for today.

Heavenly Father, You are the source of all wisdom, including my priorities and what my day should look like. Help me seek Your wisdom for my priorities rather than finding them in my inbox or social media accounts. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:

Exodus 20:3, "You shall have no other gods before me." (NIV)


Romans 12:2, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will." (NIV)


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Daily Devotion

8/18/2015

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Coffee for Your Heart
Holley Gerth

"A Secret to Help You Stay Strong and Beat Burnout"​


For years I operated on this principle: "I'll rest when the work is done." But I slowly came to realize the work is never done. And as a result, I was never resting. It took a brush with serious burnout to convince me I had to change my thinking. I needed to learn to say, "I'll rest when I'm done," In other words, when I become weary or depleted it's my sacred duty to stop for a bit.

Jesus illustrated this when He said to His disciples, "Let's go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile" (Mark 6:31). Those words might lead us to believe they had helped everyone they could and done all that was possible. But the opposite was actually true. The same verse continues, "He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and His apostles didn't even have time to eat."

I'm convinced one of the reasons we see so much burnout, especially from those in ministry, is because we don't think God gives us permission to pull away, slow down or take a break. But our souls are made to go nonstop. Our hearts are vessels that need to be refilled. Our bodies have limits we need to respect.

When we ignore those realities it's like driving a car and saying, "I'll stop when there's no more road." It's much wiser to say, "I'll stop when my fuel gauge tells me my tank is getting low." The latter ensures we'll go much, much farther. And avoid a lot of pain along the way.

These are signs it may be time to stop and refuel . . .
  • We lose the joy in what we're doing. What used to be a blessing now feels like a burden.
  • We are irritable or resentful of others who don't work as hard as we do or appreciate our efforts.
  • We're consistently relying on quick fixes to keep our energy like lots of caffeine or sugar while neglecting healthy food and exercise.
  • We're doing so much for God that we don't have time to simply be with God.
  • We're anxious, depressed or discouraged but can't figure out why.
  • We're falling back into bad habits or destructive choices to numb our pain.
  • We hear from those who love us that they're concerned about our well-being.

All of the above point to this: We are exceeding our personal capacity. Even if it seems like we're getting away with it, there are unseen costs and consequences we can't escape.

And while we get caught up in the urgent of each day, Jesus is focused on what's important for a lifetime. He knows we may "gain more ground" now only to lose all of it and then some when we come to a standstill from exhaustion. As a life coach, I said this probably more than anything else to clients: There is a significant difference between what's doable and what's sustainable.

Choosing to say, "I'm done for now" is not weakness. It's wisdom. It's also essential to staying strong and finishing well. The work will be there tomorrow. The real question is, if we refuse to rest, will we be?

Thankfully, Jesus still extends the same invitation He did to the disciples: "Let's go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile." We can trust He will use those times to fill us up then send us out again to serve even more powerfully than before.

Here's the secret I've finally discovered: Sometimes the most important, productive thing we can do is nothing at all.

XOXO
Holley Gerth


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