Tasks

The list for today is long, as it seems to be most every day.

What I want to do.
What I need to get done.
What I should do.

And then there are the things I maybe should leave space for…

While it is important to pray for the people in our lives, it is also important to pray for the tasks before us: that we can focus and give a good effort and that the tasks we are tackling have a good impact.

We cannot always guarantee an outcome that is commensurate with our effort. I do believe that is God’s business. We need to be about planting the seeds and setting the stage.

May the things we do aid in creating the setting that helps hearts be receptive.

Knock, knock

I never really know what is on the other side of the door. I can try to peek out from a curtain window or I can look through the peephole if there is one.

Might it be flowers? Bad news? An opportunity to assist? Am I needed?

There are so many ways a day can go. If you can start your day by being the one to “ask, seek, and knock” you might find that you are in a better position to adjust to the needs of the day.

Approaching God and recognizing His gifts of forgiveness and grace puts our heart in a good space. Offering our prayers and intercessions is a beautiful way to start the day.

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened”. Matthew 7:7-8 NIV

Taking the time

I am sure there is just a slight bit of difference between the “taking the time” and “making the time” — maybe it is all the same.

While we all have 24 hours every day, these hours are often chopped up in so many different ways that it is hard to have two identical days. At least, for me, that is the case. The general week looks the same, but the day to day is full of so many interesting things to do. And I love the flexibility to respond to last minute opportunities. Of course, some days have more margin in them than others. And some seasons of life have more margin than others. And, still yet, sometimes I am in a better mental space or physical space than other times. All of these factor in for when I am able to take/make/carve out the time.

There are always things on the front burner and on the back burner, I just need to remember to turn off the burners and tuck some things away until I can work through them.

I encourage you to commit your plans and your day to the Lord. Ask Him to direct your steps. May we have a calendar that allows us the opportunity to respond to the needs of others while still taking time to care for our own needs.

There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:

²    a time to be born and a time to die,
    a time to plant and a time to uproot,
³    a time to kill and a time to heal,
    a time to tear down and a time to build,
⁴    a time to weep and a time to laugh,
    a time to mourn and a time to dance,
⁵    a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
    a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
⁶    a time to search and a time to give up,
    a time to keep and a time to throw away,
⁷    a time to tear and a time to mend,
    a time to be silent and a time to speak,
⁸    a time to love and a time to hate,
    a time for war and a time for peace. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 NIV

Little Steps and Big Goals

Do you know how how many steps it takes to get to the big goal? A lot. In fact, if you stop to think about it for too long, it might discourage you. But, that might be because your big goal is taking center stage.

I am all about having a goal and going after it, but I think it is really important to consider what we do each day towards that goal. The little steps add up and they matter.

But why?

They establish a habit and a habit establishes a rhythm.

And with a rhythm there is momentum. I find that even if I skip a beat, the overall movement is there and easy to step back into it.

I like a big chunk of focused time for projects and there is definitely a time for that approach. But I have come to understand that my daily habits set my path more than I realized.

Are your little steps — or daily habits — nurturing your physical health or taking away from it?

Are they building up your relationships or tearing them down?

Are they deepening your connection with God or taking away from it?

Instead of being overwhelmed by a big goal and how you might not be achieving it, think about one step you can take today towards that goal today.

If you head that direction step-by-step, you will eventually find you are there! Don’t dismiss those “little” steps!

Lord, help me to be mindful of my little steps and where they are pointing my feet for this journey. Guide me as I decide my path. And when I stumble, because I surely will, steady me in your Word and way!

Compassion

It is much easier for me to think about forgiving others when I have taken stock of my own sins. I have plenty of them. Some have been traveling companions throughout my life.

I have a little stockpile of regrets and I imagine others might, too. How do I want my regrets received when I verbalize them? And how might I respond when others speak of their own regrets? We have all done things we shouldn’t have and we have all left things undone.

I don’t have to look very far to know that showing grace, mercy, and compassion to those who are sitting with regret. Sometimes the stories are difficult to hear. Sometimes there is no earthly resolution. But, there is the peace that God can give.

Confession is good for the soul. Our own regret can deepen our compassion for others. God longs for us to come to Him in confession. And we can offer to others the forgiveness and comfort we have received from Him.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NIV

God’s future work

We’ve been talking about being thankful for the day. And thankful for things that happened long ago. And, I hope you found at least one thing from you past that you could identify where God was working in and through it all. Since we know God does all kinds of things and weaves them all together in a very personal way,

So, let’s offer up thanksgiving for the work God will be doing. Think 5, 10, 20, 40 years into the future. It could be in our lives but it can also be in the lives of our family and others we hold dear — friends, children, nieces/nephews, cousins, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. I call this “Praying Forward” and it is a great opportunity to think in a bit bigger way.

We know God is working now. We know He has been working through the years of our life. And we know He will continue working through our lives. But, we also know that all of what God is doing is much bigger than us and God has always been working — through the generations. And, He will continue to do that.

I pray you look forward and trust God with your future. There surely will be difficult times because this is life on Earth. But may you trust God as He weaves it all together.

Thank you, Lord, for bringing me to this time. I entrust my future to You. And I entrust my people to You. Help my steps today reflect that trust. Help me “Pray Forward” even though I don’t know the details of the future. What I do know is that You are there!

Adjusting

Have you ever had your life turn upside down with little warning?

Honestly, having a warning doesn’t really seem to help anyway. It’s all hard. It could be a death, a debilitating illness, a job loss, a change in schools, a new boss or _________________________ (fill in the blank.)

How we adjust to what is in front of us is important. And we cannot expect to always do it with finesse.

How do you typically respond to a big change that isn’t welcome? In my younger years, I was quite reactionary. I dwelled, I stewed, and I was very verbal about all of my processing. As time has marched forward and I have encountered more difficult situations, I have learned how to pace my response. It doesn’t mean I don’t feel my feelings (anger, frustration, disappointment, sadness, etc.) I do. But I have learned to pause. I don’t have to have an answer or solution immediately unless it is a 911 emergency. I can take the time to regroup. For me, the most essential way to adjust and calm my system down is to take time with God — not only at that time, but ahead of that time. The work before really paves the difficult roads to be a little calmer.

This isn’t to say there aren’t difficult days or the “Why God?” questions. Of course, there are. But I know God can handle all of those. And He knows that I want to see His work in difficult situations. I want to see the hope that He can show and the glimpses of good and beauty that can arise from dark days.

Loss is difficult — when we lose our place, our people, or our health it takes time to adjust. But there is no better place for me to go than to God to have my perspective adjusted. He always sees and knows the bigger picture. And as I try to sort out the incomprehensible things in my brain, He doesn’t expect me to understand it all. He simply asks that I lay these disappointments at His feet and that I follow Him for my next steps.

As I wake up each day, I ask God to be with me as I move through the day. Yes, I have a general plan, but I know that is just a plan. God is the one who really knows how the day will unfold and I trust Him to walk beside me every step of the way as I adjust to the situations that come my way.

We make our own plans, but the Lord decides where we will go. Proverbs 16:9 CEV

Respecting Rest

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 NIV

Do you find yourself feeling guilty about resting? I find that my mind has been trained to think that rest is for the weak. I don’t always notice my own subtle thoughts along those lines but sometimes I hear them in conversations with others: “I slept in and was lazy today.” or “I feel lazy when I sit for just a few moments.”

Those with busier personalities may have a harder time with sitting still. And others of us may do a good job resting and recovering as they prepare for the next thing. Do you allow time for physical and emotional rest?

Not all situations are demanding physically. Some circumstances require heart and soul work, but they each use our energy. I am just thinking about regular life here — you know, when things seem to be ok. We are working and doing life and day-by-day things are going smoothly. But throw in something that is demanding either short term or long term and we will find we need even more rest.

If we are living and breathing life on this Earth, we will all experience something that is demanding and maybe even soul crushing. I pray that you are in regular communication with God before that happens. Or that you start resting in Him now. When we are weary and burdened He will give us rest. As we seek God’s will and wisdom for our circumstances, He will give us the rest we are desperate for.

Sit a while and consider His offer for rest. Rise refreshed with renewed strength for your day. Let Him carry you through your circumstances.

Mindful

I vacillate between being overly mindful and complete oblivious.

A little balance is in order here. I am not sure why I am in a state of feast of famine with my mindfulness. I surely can’t be mindful in every moment of every day. But there are rhythms and helpful habits I can build into my day that can help me be more mindful.

Time in God’s Word.

A weekly piece of Scripture to focus on.

Scriptural truths in my visual or auditory space.

Regular opportunities for prayer.

Setting aside regular time with God helps me be more mindful. Slowing down and allowing God access to those deeper parts of me requires my time and His patience.

What things should I set aside to make space for God’s work in my heart?

Present

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 NIV

My request list is rather long these days. I cannot fix any of the situations around me. I can only offer them up to God. But the people I love are in heavy times and it hurts my heart.

And then I remember — I can lay all of these things at Jesus’ feet. And trust that God will give me His perfect peace. This life isn’t always easy. And sometimes if I focus too far into the future, I find myself in a little bit of a panic.

How will this all play out?

Today I present my requests and pray that God will guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus.