-i.e. live the life you were designed to live!
Life.
Sometimes all IS calm, all IS bright.
Sometimes life is wonderfully beautiful.
Sometimes it doesn’t feel remotely wonderful or beautiful.
Sometimes I feel like life is like being a hamster on a wheel – moving frantically but getting nowhere fast.
We work harder & harder, & the wheels turn faster & faster.
This frantic existence is sustainable short term. Trying to do it all. Trying to do more . Trying to do it all better.But unexpected circumstances or pressure knocks us sideways.
Sometimes we can anticipate a trouble looming. Sometimes we feel like we’re tossed right into a storm. Sometimes an avalanche of responsibility crushes our optimism.
Our life can feel satisfactory- acceptable though not outstanding. We can feel disconnected & flat. Like we’re living in black & white rather than true colour. Like we’re surviving not thriving. Coping-just about
Donald Miller wrote ‘Stop reacting to life & start living with intention’
And if we live intentionally -it often means deliberately choosing to do less-rather than more
There’s a German phrase weneger aber besser . The English translation is less but better . Quality, not quantity.
Greg McKeown wrote a book entitled Essentialism:
‘Essentialism is not about how to get more things done; it’s about how to get the right things done.’
‘Doing the right thing is far more energizing than simply doing anything and everything. We only have one life and this life is too important to waste by being busy.’ (Christine Caine)
So how can we redeem our one,solitary, precious life from the default setting of busyness?
*Recharge
When we’re feeling overworked & overwhelmed the best thing we can do is slow down & stop.
‘Just as our phones have a certain capacity, we each have a unique capacity level. Our capacity depends on our personality, our experiences, and our seasons of life. People and events are constantly draining us, and we must recharge and off-load our excess or risk shutting down altogether.'(Alli Worthington-Breaking Busy)
‘Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a while… Including you’ (Anne Lamott)
We need to unplug & unwind. To create space in our days in our minds & margin in our lives.
In our Maker’s instruction book He decreed that we should have a day of rest in every seven- not as a luxury but as a necessity for us to function. Quality downtime is not wasting time.
*Reflect
When you’re unplugged & unwound, consider these questions. Write down your answers for future reference.
(1)What has God entrusted to me?
What are the things only I can do?
I think this is a very useful question.I’m recognise that I have been entrusted with the task of nurturing my children. I also need to be the life-partner my husband needs me to be.
You may have been given a career or a role in church that you know is a God-given assignment. Not everyone has the gifts, talent, experience or qualification needed.
Though I may not have chosen to be work full-time in previous seasons, currently using my training & degree in the practice entrusted to me is something only I can do.
Writing to try to encourage others on this journey of life is also something I’m meant to do.
What are the things in your life that only you can do?
(2)What things should I stop doing?
Purposely edit your life-don’t drift along. We have the choice to say yes to the things we are assigned to do, & no to other non-essential things.
‘The decisions remake determines the schedule we live’
‘Today’s choices become tomorrow’s circumstances’
(Lysa Terheurst-The Best Yes)
I need to stop wasting time eg limit time on social media.
I may need to say no the good things in order to have time to do better things.
I need to stop expending energy on negative relationships.
What do you need to stop today?
(3)What brings joy & encourages me to live well?
Carve out time with those you love.
Do more of what makes you happy.
That’ll look different for each of us. For me that means being in the great outdoors with my family, running, reading & writing .
How can you thrive?
*Reconnect
Reconnect with your Designer
‘Sure-the world says you are what you do. But the Word says you are Whose you are. And what we do ultimately flows out of who & Whose we are.’(Ann Voskamp)
The life we were designed to live has God at the centre. He is our source of strength, our Grand Designer & Saviour of our soul.
The way to truly get a life is to surrender it to the One who created your life & sustains it.
Let Him take control:
“If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.”
(Matthew 10:39 NLT)
Jesus said, ” I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.”
(John 10:10 MSG)
‘It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.’
(Ephesians 1:11 MSG)
‘So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering.’
(Romans 12:1 MSG)
Whatever else you do, carve out time to recharge,reflect & reconnect this week
Blessings,
Ruth x
Blessed! 