Okay, back to the regularly scheduled program....
Finding order in a busy season. I'm beginning to think that there is no such thing as a busy season. What i've been defining as a busy season seems to just be life. If it's not this it's that and if it's not that then it's this - basically it's one thing or another. Perhaps I should replace the word "busy" with productive. Yeah, I like that better, productive. If we are in fact working while it's day as the bible admonishes us to, then we probably do feel "busy" most times. There's really no time for unplanned or extended idleness. I can testify how one day turns into 2, which turns into a week, which turns into a month. Ah ha! My thought pattern has been interrupted.....here's what came to mind:
While typing, I was suddenly reminded of our foremother in Proverbs 31, here is what we know about her from v.27, "She watches over the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness." Or the message bible says it like this "She keeps an eye on everyone in her household, and keeps them all busy and productive. " Okay, so how do we (or me if i'm alone in this) be busy and productive? How should I keep order in my life? I've been struggling to find a balance for several months (since the July 24th's "Reboot" post). Let's see, I may have a solution.
I'm an analytical person so by default I operate with the left side of my brain. In order to be optimally effective, I need order, to-do lists, calendars and other organizational tools. This works for me in my career and in my social life so I'm thinking it's high time I use these tools in my spiritual life as well. With our online bible study beginning, this is a good time for me to be more purposeful in my biblical study and quiet time - you know, doing it on purpose. Not fitting it in, not being neglectful, but truly on purpose and with focused intent I will continue studying to show myself approved and seeking Him so that he will tell me great and mighty things that I do not know (jeremiah 33:3). What I did last season is no longer effective so I need to try something different.
Here's my new regimen until further notice:
Morning - 15 Minutes of Fulfillment (title borrowed from a co-worker):
- Quiet Reflection
- Review & Recite Memory Scriptures
- Morning Prayer
- Spoken Affirmation
Evening - Hour of Power ("hour" here is not literal)
- Bible Study
- Meditation
- Prayer
- Spoken Affirmation
Any of you have a prescription that's working? Please do share.
~bdr
2 comments:
great prescription. yes! any suggestions...esp. for those of us who can't keep an organizer/schedule of any sort to save their lives. i am all ears. i realize, that even with the best intentions of 'planning in' quiet time and things of the like for instance to foster a daily practice of not looking to the left or the right...i am back in a dizzying grind. how frustrating. though i'm sure for some it's not that at all--instead it's busyness that is positive, productive, and edifying.
the more i ponder my dilemma though, the more i realize for me it's simple really...whatever jolts me out of the things that (as our brother Paul said) are true, honest, just, pure, lovely or of good report...have to go.
shay,
you are so right, some of us are definitely more "structured" than others. the main point is to have focused intentions, to be purposeful, to make my time with the Lord a priority not just in my mind and heart, but in my deeds. oh goodness knows how i've gotten off track this year. whew. it's the martha and mary story. doing great things but not doing the main thing. any other free spirits out there please chime in because as shay said, we're all ears. toodles!
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