Anyone taking a cursory glance at my day-timer this past month would have seen a wild riot of colors and activities and probably would have surmised that by now, at month’s end, I am running near empty.  And that assumption would be correct.

At times like these, when things slow again, I do my usual reassessment of how to manage my time.  I hope you won’t mind me sharing with you some of my thoughts on that.

Luke 10:41-42 is a vivid reminder that as we fill our days, and day-timers with activities, there is only “one thing needed.”  Focusing on the Lord by daily drinking in His Word, praying, and seeking His forgiveness are the first items I should be penciling in.  These are things that keep me on track with the other responsibilities I have and give me the fuel to carry through my days with His grace.  Matthew 14:23 emphasizes setting aside regular time to be with God as Jesus did.  That sounds like great advice!

Our every need has been supplied by our Loving Father as Philippians 4:19 points out.  There can be a lot of energy spent on seeing to the needs of our families.  What joy it is to have someone to exhort you to remember that God has already done that.  (Matthew 10:27-31, Jeremiah 29:11, Psalm 31:15.)  I love my vocation as wife and mother and serving my family in His name.  My prayer each morning is that I am a loving example of a redeemed sinner who, with the help of the Holy Spirit, relies upon God for her every need.

The Lord fills me up with His peace (Colossians 1:19-23, 2 Thessalonians 3:16), His love (John 3:16-17, Romans 5:8, 1 John 2:2) His mercy (1 Chronicles 16:34, Psalm 118:1) and His forgiveness (Ephesians 1:7-10, Colossians 1:13-14) so that I can tackle whatever He has placed before me.  Does that mean my calendar will have more white space next month?  Not necessarily.  But it does mean that as I go about doing those things, He is always with me (Matthew 28:20).

Paula Anderson, President of H.O.M.E.

Psalm 18:1-2

Copyright October 2007, all rights reserved