Do you ever think to yourself, “if only I gave God more of my morning, I’d have more energy and discipline to get done all the things I need to get done today?”
I’m prone to that.
I think that approach, though, is wrong. It treats God like He’s a can of Red Bull: Read your Bible, and you’re energized and can get your to-do list to-done!
Sometimes I worry that the reason that I feel exhausted is because I’m doing things in my strength, not His. And so what I need to do, then, is to spend more time with God, so I’ll have more power and can get things done and be more disciplined.
Wrong.
The reason we spend time with God is not so that we will feel invigorated and ready to face the day and get through our agenda; the reason we spend time with God is so that He can set the agenda.
If you’re exhausted, the problem is likely that you have not allowed God to set your agenda. You’re asking more of yourself than God is asking of you, and you’re putting your energy in the wrong things.
This week, instead of asking God to make you more disciplined, what about asking God to help you set your agenda?
Point out what things you can get rid of, and what things you need more of. Ask Him to show you where His heart lies, and then follow that heart.
Don’t treat God like a Red Bull. He’s so much more than that.
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Sheila Wray Gregoire has been married for 25 years and happily married for 20! She loves traveling around North America with her hubby in their RV, giving her signature "Girl Talk" about sex and marriage. And she's written 8 books. About sex and marriage. See a theme here? Plus she knits. Even in line at the grocery store.
Well said Sheila!
Great insight, needed to hear that today. Thanks!
This topic is dear to my agenda’d, organized heart. I do not think of myself as selfish person, but I have come to realize in the last few years that I am selfish with “my” time. It is a thing I must daily relinquish. Thanks for the nudge for today.
Thank you for reminding me of this!
I liked this when I read it on 10/15/12 – and apparently your server did too. 🙂
I know! I had it scheduled for the wrong day and then I had to delete it and reschedule it!
That has an “ouch” factor to it, that needed to be said. Thank you for helping all to see how we can easily mis-administer our time with God. I needed the re-focus.
This is so good and I have never thought about things this way. It gives me a little freedom to feel less guilty. As a homeschooling mom of seven who goes to school myself, I can easily feel like I should be doing more in certain areas of my life. If I ask God what’s important to Him, then I would have no need to feel guilty.
how often we treat him like an energy drink! Thanks for this reminder today
Like. (Thank you.)
I read this shortly after a little melt down/ tantrum I pitched in my husband’s direction. (clever him, let me go til I cried then hugged me, reminded me to take one thing at a time). But a nice kick from this to get me focused where I should be focused, and at the right time too! Huzzah!
Just a btw, the fit wasn’t at my dh or about him, just about some bananas level decisions we have to make soon.
Such a good reminder!!
Beautiful and inspiring thoughts to begin my day. Thank you!
You’re so welcome! I need the reminder everyday, too.
Wow…. I think I have been guilty of this before! Thanks for a new approach!
I started my morning Bible time hoping that it would get me off on the right foot and draw me closer to God. It did that but I still need a nap in the middle of the day 🙂
One this it does bring me is peace. It helps me to focus my day on Him and remember His promises for me. It is also, like you said, a daily reminder that my days are not my own. Something I have a hard time remembering since I’ve started working several hours every day on the farm while still trying to juggling full time mothering and a side business. It isn’t about “me time.” It is about the fact that God has given me a mission to accomplish and, if I lean on Him when I am weary, He gives me the motivation and inspiration to continue on through the fatigue.
I hope that makes sense and it’s not just babbling. Trying to type with various interruptions of little ones that have come to join me. Computer time is up!
It made sense to me, Tessa!
WOW I have never thought of it like that. Thank you for pointing that out. Very good thoughts for the day.
Wow. After a weekend of working practically nonstop (with another double shift today) and knowing my apartment is filthy, this is exactly what I needed to hear!
One of my fellow “Quacked Pots” sent this to me this morning, and even thought it’s an old post, and probably no one will read this comment, I just want to say I could not agree MORE with this sentiment! I’ve been getting up early to spend time with God for more than a dozen years, but at least a decade of that time frame was spent mostly struggling to “get it done” and still get enough sleep, have time to get ready, blah blah blah…. While it’s true that my day DID go smoother if I got that time in, it hasn’t be until the past year–really, the past few months–that I literally CAN’T FUNCTION without that time. Here’s the difference: I used to try and “squeeze in” fifteen minutes for a devotional. Now? I wake up a full hour and forty five minutes before the rest of the family–I spend the first 15 minutes praying (and dozing, not gonna lie) and then the next full hour is God’s hour. He directs me on what to read, and sometimes He nudges a blog post out of that reading. 🙂
God definitely maps out my day….and if I don’t make time for Him to do that–the enemy will invariably take over!
Hmmmmm….I feel a blog post coming on~ 🙂
Thanks for the powerful reminder. I am guilty too often of being too worried about my to-do list. But God is worthy of so much more