Welcome back. I truly hope that this week you tried to live more
in the present moment. I hope you tried to enjoy your life more and
find the good in the phase of life you might find yourself in at
the moment. The most amazing thing I found from living in the
present moment, is the incredible peace that came over me, because
if you live in the present, you don't need to worry about the
future. After all Jesus said:
Matthew 6:34 "So don't worry about
tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries."
We can plan, we can dream, we can
save, but we shouldn't worry. The Lord will provide. He is in
control.
Now this week I would like to focus
our attention on trying to live a more simplistic life. Now I am
not saying that we should all return to the dark ages and live
lives like monks, but we need to try and simplify our lives. Our
lives are so rushed, so busy, our schedules are packed to full
capacity, that actually we cannot cope with it all. It becomes too
much. We need to try and find a midway. We need to try and release
ourselves from some of the commitments we feel we should honor. Our
bodies were not designed for the type of stress we are putting
ourselves under. We need to learn to say no to certain things.
(Isn't it interesting that when we get sick we cannot understand
where this sickness comes from? It has been proved that many
illnesses are stress related.)
I know we all want to be in the
thick of things. We are so scared that we would lose out if we
don't attend all the events. And yes I am even talking about church
events. You cannot be everywhere all the time and you cannot be
everything to everybody. That is Jesus and the Holy Spirit's job.
He is the only One that can truly be everything that everyone
needs. Your body needs to recuperate and it needs time alone with
its Maker.
Of course do what you can, attend
what you can, but give yourself a rest.
I was like that at one stage. I
just started working, and every single night after work I attended
some or other social/church event. I was running around, I never
said no to any invitation and I never stopped for a breather. I was
everywhere and I tried to be everything for everyone. I felt
popular and that I am making headway socially. My voice started to
give me trouble because I talked way too much (I know it sounds
funny, but later on it was a real problem. It hurt every time I
opened my mouth) But did I stop my social calendar? No, I hated not
being in the thick of things. I was so sure I will miss something.
My parents even advised me to slow down as they realized that it
was not good for me to go on like this, but I wouldn't listen. And
do you know how the Lord got me to stop? I broke my ankle at a
sporting event of the company that I was working for. I had to walk
with crutches for 6 weeks and above all I couldn't drive. I was
stuck. The Lord brought me to a standstill. I couldn't go anywhere
and I couldn't attend all my social engagements. I was devastated.
How was I to cope with no schedule, nowhere to go? How was I going
to get through this? What is going to happen if I am not everything
to everyone? And do you know what happened? Nothing. Most of the
'friends' I spent so much time with called once and didn't bother
to call again. They went on with their lives and got someone else
to be everything to them. They had a social schedule to attend
to.
You see we are not built to go full
steam ahead all of the time. We need time to recuperate and allow
the Lord to work in our lives. We need time alone with Him to hear
His Voice and listen to His Plans for our lives and not simply rush
forward. I wonder sometimes what would have happened if the Lord
didn't bring me to a standstill? I would most probably have
continued that way and I would have missed the special time I had
alone with Him. I would have missed His gentle voice telling me of
His Plans for me. I would have missed His supernatural guidance in
my life. I would have missed Him. And that would have been a
tragedy!
The time He brought me to a
standstill was one of the best times in my life. I had peace, I
didn't feel rushed and I felt physically good (except for my ankle
of course, but it healed in due time.)
Focus on what is important in life.
Give yourself a rest and look upwards. The Lord will give you the
strength to continue and the grace to know His full plans for your
life.
Please forgive us for valuing human
opinions more than we value You. Please help us to follow Your
gentle Voice and to listen to You. Give us the rest we need and
help us to stand still once in a while. We love you. In Jesus name.
Amen