So what do you feel you need more than anything in the world right now to make you happy? How does the end of your day leave you feeling? Are you satisfied or disappointed and tired? Now think about how you began your day. Like most of us, we wake up with a to-do list and pre-planned job duties a mile long. We can experience mental overload before our feet touch the ground! We fill our minds with all of the things that “we” need to do, and what we need to “make” happen. I don’t know about you, but it brings me a little peace when I have accomplished most of my to-do lists within a 12-24 hour period. I am a horrible procrastinator, but when I get things done the peace that I experience from that is very short lived. Where the old list begins to dwindle, there is another one waiting closely in the wings screaming for my immediate attention! This use to drive my husband crazy! LOL. “He’d say; honey we will get to it, don’t worry”. I use to feel so bad thinking my mind was overloading and disturbing his peace! I had to learn to stop, and celebrate an accomplishment before picking up new “to-dos.”
My soul desperately cries out for focus, and not only focus for what I want, but for what God wants for me.
Today, I tried a 7- minute focus drill. In the guided drill I was forced to focus on one thing, while giving some attention to the things that would pull my mind away from that primary focus. I then had to force my self to come back to the center of my focus, pushing the distractions out of my view. It was not easy for me as I try to do 10 things at once. I'm constantly running back and forth trying to keep all the balls in rotation. I realize when I do that, all the balls maybe moving, but do I know where are they going? I'm I really getting anything of substance done? Much like a person who juggles, the art is being able to “juggle”, but to what avail? Maybe to say you are focused enough to keep tossing and catching the same balls over and over again? Although impressive, is it real productivity? How did that juggling act fulfill my God given purpose on that day? See we can do and accomplish a lot of impressive stuff, but is that what we’re suppose to be accomplishing. I realize that I don’t want to be this master Multi-tasker in the sense of how our world glorify and praise that skill today. I want to focus on the task at hand giving all of my attention to what is important in that moment, and then move on to the next. So how do we accomplish this, when there’s so much to do in our waking hours? Let us tell it, and women especially , ALL of it is top priority! Lol. Lord helps us.
In Ps. 118:24 God reminds us that every new day that we enter, He made it. Meaning not only did He prepare the day, and the encounters of the day He allows us to be in it. So our focus and direction every morning should be, "God What did you prepare for me, today?"
What is your focus for me in this day Lord. What have you pre-ordained? When the Word of God says that His peace will surpass all understanding, and guard our hearts and minds, it means that we have to experience His peace. Not create it. No one ever visits a spa, or a vacation resort, and then try to create a peaceful environment once they arrive. “Okay let me plan my peace?” No! The entire retreat IS peaceful. It has already been prepared for you. Just walk in, sit down, and receive. (Yes Jesus!) God is saying, I’ve already created it. It’s a gift that comes with each new day. Look for it, and accept it.
So, I am a planner, am I going to stop planning? Of course not! Lol. I will however begin practicing the welcomed spiritual discipline of accepting God’s providential moves, as they come. True inner peace comes from knowing God’s will, trusting God, and then accomplishing what He wants us to do in “that” day. That old gospel song that says; “This peace that I have, the world didn’t give it, and the world can’t take it away” That’s facts! If you believe that more money, status, things, friends, and fame will bring you real joy and peace, man ole man the hard and tiring lessons will abound. I’ve been there! All of those things are subject to change, and will fade in your lifetime, on this side of heaven. But once you prove what that acceptable will of God is for your day, and then you walk in that. You will have successfully accepted your free gift of His peace, and your life will emerge from that peace. Every distraction or seemingly altered course of your day will bring on new meaning as you search for the daily miracles and blessings God has waiting for you.
Let's Search for God's Gift of peace in 2019!
