Today’s Daily Bread ~ The burden of busy…

Joshua 3:9 – So Joshua told the Israelites, “Come and listen to what the LORD your God says.”

I sing on the Praise Team at my church – Trietsch Memorial United Methodist in Flower Mound.  Normally we practice on Thursday nights, but this week schedule conflicts dictated otherwise.  So Monday evening at 5pm, we set up, prayed in, and praised God through rehearsal.

It had been a busy day…a crazy busy day.  By the time I got to church I was frustrated and stressed, and upset with myself for taking it out on my family.

Practice was short, so afterward, I decided to spend a few minutes in the prayer chapel. 

The room is set up beautifully.  Warm (battery operated) candlelight, soft music, and pillows in a circle around a rugged, wooden cross all beckoned me to lay my burdens down at the feet of Jesus.  And I did.

I knelt for quite some time, emptying my mind of self, and asking God to replace it with His Holy Spirit.  When I finally looked up, my eyes were drawn to a beautiful tapestry of the 23rd Psalm, hanging from the wall.  And these were the words that ministered to me:  He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters; He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake (Psalm 23:2-3). 

You know what occurred to me at that moment?  So many of us find peace so elusive because we bear the burden of business.  Once upon a time, the required answer to “how are you?” was “fine.”  Now it seems to be, “oh, you know.  Just busy.”

The enemy loves a busy believer.  Once we’ve accepted Christ as our Savior, Satan cannot destroy us.  He cannot.  But boy, oh boy, can he distract us! 

We over-schedule our kids with the noble intention of keeping them out of trouble, or away from TV and video games.  We over-commit ourselves because we can’t say no to a good cause.  We’re always rushed, always stressed, never quite content.

If you do not have a block set aside in your day for God, you need to take a good, hard look at your schedule.  I have a husband, two young children and a full-time job.  So I decided that TV had to go.  Do I miss it?  Not for one split second.  There is so little on TV that’s worth our time…and we become what we fill our mind with.  I want to fill my mind with Jesus.

The only way to peace, contentment and joy in this life is through a relationship with Jesus Christ.  And you can’t have a relationship with someone if you never spend any time with them.  How can He fill you if you never stop what you’re doing, empty yourself of self, and let Him in?  How can you know what He wants you to do if you never stop to listen?

In this passage of Scripture, the Israelites were about to take the land God had promised them.  Can you imagine the excitement?  The anticipation?  They had wandered for forty years in the dessert!  They’d just watched God stop the Jordan river, allowing them to cross!  But Joshua told them to stop, slow down, and listen to the Lord before they did anything else.  Let’s do the same.

Dear Heavenly Father, life can be so stressful, so hectic.  So many times we take things on with the best of intentions…that only serve to crowd our lives.  We know that sometimes You call us to say no to “good” so You can give us “best.”  Please give us wisdom and discernment when it comes to our schedules, and our children’s schedules.  Please convict us to slow down so You can lead us through green pastures and quiet waters.  Please help us to empty ourselves of “us” and our stuff.  Fill us with Your Holy Spirit instead, and bless us to be a blessing to others.  We love You so much God, and we pray this in the beautiful name of Your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ.  Amen.