Days will come and go regardless of our intentions.
We hold no power over time; it is only how we navigate within the time given.
May our actions have merit.
Use the talents God has entrusted you with to build His kingdom rather than tarry in the busyness of this world.
This world will occupy you to the degree you allow, imprisoning you with worry, disappointment, and doubt.
There is always a hustle — always something to be done.
May we not forget the value of rest.
Rest that is purposed for renewal is not spent in mindless habits such as scrolling or brooding. Holy rest draws the splinter of selfishness from the flesh and positions our hearts and spirits in God’s presence.
Through meditating on His Word and allowing stillness in His presence to envelope us, we open ourselves to receiving more than we could ever give.
I started this week in frustration. Despite my best efforts, there was too much to do and too little funds to do it: my responsibilities outweighed my resources.
My stress was high, and my consolation was low. I was tiring myself and was worn thin.
In my fevered imagination, I could not fully discern the rational from the irrational. I was clever with my reasoning and could concoct just about any scenario as probable.
In all the imagined plausibility, I never once predicted I would get the flu.
As my temperature crept into the three digits, I fell into a dizzy state of coughing, aches, and unease. I attempted to work, only to realize I could not function at the level required for my tasks — horrible timing.
Nothing soothed me. The computer and television hurt my eyes, and scrolling on my phone required too much concentration. If there were a positive, my head hurt too much to overthink.
So, I sat under a heated throw and did nothing. Nothing.
It didn’t take long for my nothingness to be filled with sounds: the clock ticking, the traffic passing upon wet pavement, the cat lapping his water.
These sounds were nothing new, yet I had forgotten or taken for granted their presence. I fear, at times, that I do this with God.
When we become distracted by the bustle of life, we risk diminishing our purpose. In this, we may fill the void with temporary pleasures.
Such pleasures can include overindulging in sweets and alcohol, binge-watching television, and excessive laziness. These behavior patterns can eventually lead to self-loathing, being unhealthy, excessive negativity, and depression.
Yes, that which we escape into to feel pleasure may end up bringing us pain.
This is why it is so important to find time to rest in the presence of the Lord and renew our minds in His promises and will. When we find ourselves slothing in mediocracy and misery, ask yourself, who benefits from this behavior, Christ or Satan?
We must gird ourselves for the fray – Satan wants nothing more than to desensitize you to your calling! A lazy Christian delights the devil.
While having the flu, I was very sluggish. Yet, I knew that my misery would only compound itself if I allowed it. As such, I took the time to listen to beautiful music while resting on the couch. I poured God’s power, peace, provision, and protection into my spirit. Even though I felt awful, I did not allow the sickness to go to my spirit.
The exercise in sickness gifted me the time not to push against the hours, others, or myself but to simply be present and receptive to what God wanted me to receive. I received the awareness of what is most important, and despite my justifications, it had not been what I had been focusing on.
All else falls short of my relationship with Christ. If I live as one who is always anxious, worried about paying the next bill, or fearful of the worst happening, then I allow little room for God to move.
I heard worry scamper in my stillness, and God’s peace took its rightful position.
Now, it is up to me to continue to know my position in Christ and live into it. May my thoughts and heart reflect God’s will for my life; my actions have merit.
This column was initially published by CherryRoad Media. ©Tiffany Kaye Chartier.