One of the things I like about the Sabbath rest is that it forces me to admit something about myself that everyone else already knows about me: I can't do it all. The Sabbath is a time for ceasing from striving and for worship, and that is a welcome rest for me. It's a time for me to admit that I am not God. This week promises to be very busy for me, and I do not see how it will be possible to do everything on my housekeeping list. Practicing the Sabbath reminds me that it is not my job to do everything. God only calls me to faithful obedience to Him, so it's O.K. that my house doesn't always reflect my "Donna Reed" ideals. The Sabbath helps to remind me that people and relationships are more important than things - always. So, if my floor hasn't been mopped once in a while (I am not advocating neglecting one's household duties as a rule) but I took time to take an lonely, elderly woman shopping and to lunch, I believe God is pleased. Little details in life will always be there but opportunities for Kingdom service will not. If I am stressed out from striving, perhaps it is because I am paying too much attention to my "to do" list and not enough to God's. I can't do it all, and that's O.K. I only need to do what God calls me to do.
2 comments:
You are absolutely right!
One of my favorite quotes is from "The Musicians Quest" written by George MacDonald: "In all of life, nothing is more important than the next five minutes and whether or not we use it to do what God lays before us."
Sometimes God lays before us spending some time bringing a bright spot to an elderly friend's day---instead of bringing a bright spot to our kitchen floor. chances are I'm not going to be able to change the world, but with God's help and direction, I can change the next five minutes...
Joan
Thank you so much for that encouragement! You've made a bright spot in my day. :)
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