Monday, June 15, 2009

Do more?

For the last 15 days I've been purposefully living without TV. It's been wonderfully refreshing. With the exception of The Next Food Network Star, I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything.

I've felt the call to re-focus. To re-center on God and His Word.

For the past.... oh, 5 years or so, I've been praying and asking God to help me figure out what I need to cut out of my life. I've felt too busy to keep up with my "to do" list. I often make a list of my responsibilities and prayerfully consider what I can remove from that list. Usually the list stays the same and I continue to plug away at all my "duties" just hanging in there, hoping for a day to come along where I can get a break.

But, I'm beginning to think that my line of reasoning may be wrong. Maybe I'm not supposed to subtract things from my list, but instead add things to my list.

Allow me to explain.

I'm reading these incredible biographies about men and women who lived incredible lives doing incredible things for the Kingdom of God. Consistently I'm am seeing the same habits in each of their lives:

1. They spend ALOT of time in God's Word and in prayer. It is a necessity, not an afterthought to them. It is the highest priority in their lives.

2. They were always asking God what more they could do for Him.

I very rarely ask God what more I can do for Him because, quite frankly, I'm usually too tired to keep up with my current responsibilities. But I'm starting to think my focus has been wrong. Instead of praying "God what do you want me to quit doing?" Maybe I should be praying "God quicken my mortal body to do all that you have created me to do with energy and joy" (Rom. 8:11)

I think it just might work. In fact, I'm sure it will. Because I've been praying it for the last week, and I've felt more energized and excited about my daily routine than I ever have. I've also spent more time in God's Word in the last week then I have in the last month... OK, fine 3 months.

I think these "old timers" had it figured out. Lots of time in the Word, lots of time on Kingdom work. The first fuels the second.


Heb. 12:1-3 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

1 comment:

  1. Excellent post, Keri. This has been on my heart lately too...doing less, being more. It's difficult but breathtakingly sweet all at once. Thanks for sharing!

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