Are You out of Breath?
I love reading about the habits of successful people. One thing I always notice is that they grind when it’s time to grind and they rest when it’s time to rest. When I coach women who are seeking success, I find that they get stuck in a never-ending loop of half-grinding and half-resting. They never truly go hard because they’re tired all of the time. And, they never truly rest because they’re thinking of how much work needs to be done.
They are constantly out of breath.
If you’re a woman who’s always on the go and/or fails to consult God for the everyday stuff, I have 3 scriptures I want you to write down and memorize.
Psalm 127:1-2 (MSG)
If God doesn’t build the house,
the builders only build shacks.
If God doesn’t guard the city,
the night watchman might as well nap.
It’s useless to rise early and go to bed late,
and work your worried fingers to the bone.
Don’t you know He enjoys
giving rest to those He loves?
If God isn’t in it, it’s subpar. It’s a total waste of time. You can work all night, give it your best, but you’ll never build a masterpiece with your own hands without the Master. You can try to stay on top of everything, but God is the only One who protects from the seen and unforeseen.
Would you rather get little sleep and build a shack, or get daily rest and build a mansion?
Right, dumb question.
What are you trying to build? Invite God in. Put Jesus in the plan. You’ll get better results and some rest, too.
Genesis 2:2 (ERV)
God finished the work He was doing, so on the seventh day He rested from his work.
Is there a day when you truly rest? And, no, I don’t mean rest while your home goes up in flames. God didn’t half create the heavens and earth and then say on Day 3, “I’m so tired. I ain’t doing nothing tomorrow!”
He approved His completed work and then He rested.
Are you able to do what you need to do 6 days a week so that on that 7th day, you’re able to truly rest?
That’s important.
Write down everything you need to accomplish in a week. Don’t overload yourself with too many projects because you still have the day-to-day tasks such as dinner, laundry, etc. Perhaps pick one project per week and divide it up over the 6 days. But, one day a week should be reserved for resting, along with your daily sweet night’s rest (Psalm 127:2).
How do I rest with my kids?!
Play games. Ride bikes. Watch a movie. Take naps. Go to the park. Share testimonies. Pray for one another.
What about meal prep and cleanup?
Prepare food the day before so there’s no cooking involved. Use disposable plates & utensils so there’s no dish washing.
Psalm 23:3 (MSG)
True to your word,
you let me catch my breath
and send me in the right direction.
Sometimes we think we’re respecting God by only praying for “big” things. Ya know – healing, miraculous debt elimination, or famine in 3rd world countries.
But, that’s not Biblical at all. God wants people to look at our everyday lives and praise Him. That means He wants to be visible in your daily commute. He wants to show out in your business meeting. He wants to get props when someone visits your home.
He wants people to see you walking around while they’re struggling to catch their breath and ask, “What are you doing that I’m not doing?”
When God is in the mix, we don’t have to run ourselves ragged. He allows us to catch our breath and is always guiding us in the right direction.
So, what’s the play call?
Don’t worry – pray about everything, just like the Bible tells us (Philippians 4:6). That includes choosing your hair stylist, what you buy, even the clothes you wear.
It may seem silly at first, but God is concerned about the little things that concern us. Make Him the focus of your plans, and the inspiration for your rest. Soon you’ll see the benefit of doing everything with God in mind.
Share your testimony of a God-focused life in the comments below.
