With the Christmas season in full swing, it’s easy to become overloaded with the many obligations and expectations it brings.
We can get so busy with the decorating, shopping, concerts, and other activities that we’re fitting into our already packed schedules, that we lose sight of why we’re doing it all to begin with—leaving us feeling drained and overwhelmed.
In an effort to get a handle on our endless to-do lists, it’s easy to rush into the day, spending little or no time with the One who helps us most!
St. Francis de Sales said:
Every Christian needs a half-hour of prayer each day, except when he is busy, then he needs an hour.
Let’s let that sink in!
To spend more time in prayer when we’re busy certainly goes against our natural inclinations. Yet the truth of this statement falls in line with the many paradoxes of Christian living: e.g., when we give, we receive; when we praise God through our difficulties, we find joy.
When we enter the day from a place of rest, and invite Jesus to partner with us as we go about our tasks, our eyes will be open to see Him working; our hearts will be at peace to hear His voice.
We’ll be sharing the yoke with the Master, allowing Him to lighten our loads.
Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30)
With His peace guarding our hearts, we will do less, but accomplish more.
There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest . . . (Hebrews 4:9-11 NKJV)
In our drive to be productive, let’s remember the thing most worth being concerned about: spending time with the Lord . . . resting in, and enjoying His presence.
Copyright © 2018 Cheryl Elton
It does sound impossible, but the Lord mysteriously multiplies your time. It is much like tithing. I can’t even begin to get my mind around these concepts, but the Lord blesses in ways that are amazing!
Thanks, Cheryl. Good reminder for the season!
Very true! We have to jealously guard our daily time with the Lord or else the world will steal it away – particularly at Christmas time. Kind of ironic that at a time when we should be honoring our Lord, our society works so hard to keep us from doing just that! Thanks for the encouragement to keep our focus during all the craziness going on around us.
With the world’s emphasis on consumerism, it seems we have to fight more each year to keep focused on the real meaning of Christmas. No matter how crazy it gets, it’s not worth losing our peace. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Ken!