Advent 2022 – Day 28
* Join us tonight for our Christmas Eve Candlelight Service @ 5 pm *
Saturday, December 24th
The Trap of Busyness
By Michael Simpson / Season of life: Almost 60 years old!!
Scripture
… But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” ~ Luke 10:40-42
All of us have busy lives. It is the way of the modern life. If you stopped to count out all the things that you must accomplish, it is easy to feel somewhat overwhelmed with busyness. A career sometimes seems like enough to fill up all your hours. A spouse, children, grandchildren, parents, and siblings all take a great deal of your time, and we haven’t mentioned all the other personal relationships that don’t involve those we are related to. A household with a seemingly endless list of tasks just to keep everyone warm, clean, fed, and clothed can sure fill up a day. Now let’s add in the holiday season and it seems like ‘everyday life’ can be very full from
dawn to dusk. Countless others of us have other complications in a multitude of different flavors. Loneliness, depression, guilt, anger, resentment, and grief can dominate your day like no chores can.
In my own life, I recently had a health scare that has changed my outlook on life in many ways, and it has been foremost in my mind; but, don’t worry, help is on the way! I have a guaranteed way to feel more peace in your day. … Some time back, I began carving out time early in the morning for prayer. A daily prayer time is the perfect answer to improving your day, too. I started with just five minutes a day, but I bet you, like me, will continue to increase that time.
The key for me was to get into a regular habit. Once you establish a habit, you don’t even consider skipping over that time of the day. If it isn’t a regular habit, then time with the Lord, free time, ‘me time’, or whatever else you want to call this, will be the first thing that gets cut from your day in favor of some task or chore.
The truth is, many of the things we busy ourselves with during our day will be inconsequential soon. The benefits you reap from this time will be numerous. You will feel more peace throughout your day. You will feel more positive, enlightened, and renewed by time spent with the Lord. This time to focus on your faith will help you to feel unburdened, more relaxed and renewed.
Don’t let the stress and anxiety of your daily life drive you to exhaustion. Bring your troubles and your worries to the Lord. Invest in yourself each day, and don’t let anything get between you and your time with God. Bring more sunshine to your day and you will see a gradual rise in your outlook.
Closing Prayer
Dear Lord, as Psalm 34 says, deliver me from all my fears. Help me look upon your radiant face. Help me seek you. When I do, I know you will answer me. Amen
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Reflections
Read Luke 10:38-42 one more time. In what ways are you like Martha?
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List two ways you could slow down today, in order to listen to God and simply enjoy what he has given you?
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Lord God, may I “repeat the sounding joy” of who You are today!