Overcoming Busy

Start Overcoming Busy Right Now – One Thing

February 5, 2010 by Marci

Can I just be honest?  I really blew it this week.  I got really “busy” and I let it kick my butt!  Instead of saying “no” to a few things, I thought “I can fit that in” and “That will be fun” and “The kids would enjoy that.”  What a mistake!  I let stuff take over my schedule and, therefore, my life.  None of these things were “bad”.  In fact, each thing was good and fun – or should have been if I hadn’t been so stressed and worn out! None of them were very time consuming.  They all fit in the little time slots on my planner. But, when they were all thrown into one week, they caused chaos.

So, here I sit.  My blogging is behind schedule.  My house is a wreck.  The laundry is piled up.  I can’t even find my goal sheet.  What happened?  What now?  How am I going to get back on track?

Just One Thing

In our mom’s group at church, we are studying “Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World”.  It is based on the story in Luke 10:38-42.  I have read the book before, but I am gaining new insight from discussing it with other women.  And, since it is a new season in my life, different parts speak to me this time through.   This week, we read what the author, Joanna Weaver, called “the practical power of ‘one thing’”.  She writes…

The one thing that Jesus said was needed in Martha’s life was fellowship with him- and that’s true for us, too.  But the principle of “one thing” can also have smaller, practical implications that can help when life feels overwhelming.  Here are some ways to practice one-thing thinking when your wagon feels overloaded.

1. Invite Jesus to rule and reign.
2. Ask God to reveal the next step.
3. Have faith that what needs to get done will get done.
4. Be open to the Spirit’s leading.

Oh Martha!

Reading that was so convicting!  I had slipped back into my old Martha ways.  Had I asked Jesus to rule and reign over my day to day activities I would have never gotten so far off track.  I tried to do it all – on my own.  Instead of asking God what my next move should be, I just jumped right out there and ran, leaving God (and my sanity) in the dust!

I finally calmed down enough tonight to have devotions with the kids before bed.  And what did our devotion of the day happen to be about?  It was all about how Jesus didn’t do anything without hearing from the Father first.  He didn’t even speak words that weren’t given to him by God.  Boy, does God have a way of driving it home or what?  Do you think he’s trying to get my attention?  (It is sure humbling when you use yourself in an object lesson to teach your children how crazy things can get when you try to do things on your own.  They sure saw a crazy woman this week!)

Tomorrow Is A New Day

I have cleared my schedule for tomorrow – and for next week as well.  I’m starting fresh.  I have seen what can happen when I let “busy” back into my life.  Evidently, I can’t spot it on my own all the time.  I have seen what happens when I try to fit it all in my neatly crafted schedule.   I need the Lord’s help.  So, I will do my best to ask him what “one thing” I need to do next.  Just saying that lifts burdens off my heart.