THE INSIDE STORY . . .
People sometimes ask me how I do all I do. The answer is wrapped up in a lesson God taught me many years ago.
At the time, I was raising my two young children. I was running a home (a full-time job in itself :)), teaching in my children's Christian school, helping my husband with the bookkeeping for his medical practice, leading two church ministries, and trying to launch a writing ministry—all at the same time.
One day when I was totally frazzled, I went to the Lord complaining. I said, "Lord, I am at my wit's end. I simply cannot do everything I have to do."
Expecting some sympathy from the Lord, I was taken aback when, instead of sympathy, He gave me a gentle but firm rebuke. "MaryAnn, you always have enough time to do what I have called you to do."
After getting up from the floor, I said, "Okay, Lord. Then I must be missing something somewhere. Either I am a disorganized mess, or I'm doing something (or some things) that You have not called me to do."
Since I considered myself a pretty organized person, I figured that I must be doing some things that God had not called me to do.
And that was precisely the problem. I was involved in two church ministries to which God had not called me. Moreover, in leading those ministries, I was robbing other people of their calling.
So I repented of my disobedience and resigned from those ministries. Amazingly, my life—and my time—started falling into place. I soon found that I had enough time to do whatever God called me to do. My challenge became that of making sure that before beginning any activity, I checked with God first.
He gave me some powerful insight through a sister in the Lord. This precious sister shared that whenever she made a decision to pursue a new activity, she asked herself this question: "Will taking on this activity draw me closer to Jesus or farther from Him?"
Now I ask myself the same question. The answer to this question is the deciding factor in every decision I make.
Satan will use all kinds of distractions to move us away from our primary purpose on earth, which is to worship and glorify God. We do this first and foremost by spending time with Him in order to deepen our relationship with Him. Nothing matters more than spending time with Jesus every day through His Word, through meditating on His Word, through prayer, and through just listening to Him while sitting in His Presence.
If you are feeling frazzled today, go to Jesus. He has given us a standing invitation in His Word: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11: 28 NIV).
Accept the Lord's invitation. Be set free from "busyness" and learn to live in peace. As you do only what He has called you to do, you will bear much fruit for His glory, and you will not be stressed in the process.
Love and Blessings,
MaryAnn
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