Game On!

I read something recently that said we are over-thinking things and creating problems where none exist. I paused and sipped my coffee, wondering how true this was of me and my life.

My reflection was not pretty. I felt as though I was doing pretty good at work. I tend not to over-worry or over-think too much at my job. I try to be a positive influence on those around me, pointing out the good whenever I can.

Home, on the other hand, is where I was lacking. I used to ask Austin if he “used up all his good listening” before I got home from work. Turns out, I’ve been using up all my “good attitude” at work!!

Little things around the house seemed big. We need clean sheets for crying out loud! Is that closet ever going to get cleaned out? Who was going to pull the weeds out front? I don’t have time for any of this … my life is a mess!

Or, how about these: is my son sliding away from me? Is my husband tired of me? Shouldn’t we be doing more as a family? … our family is a mess!

Not true. None of it’s true.

I went on to wonder “why” I was creating problems where none truly exist (we all have areas we could do better, but true problems – many less than in my head!).

My reflection was not pretty. I have been pouring a LOT of my time and energy into my work lately. Not so much my family and home. Ouch.

Time to readjust. Now. Quickly. What I pour into my job will not matter nearly as much in eternity as how well I loved my husband or our son.

“Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s purposes, but men’s.” (Matthew 16:23)

Game on. I’m not letting the enemy distract me for another day.

Jesus told us how to create and keep a beautiful life here on earth: seek first the kingdom of God and all the other things will fall into place (Matthew 6).

God’s kingdom is all about relationships. Our relationships are the only things that will carry over into eternity. As a wife, my number one earthly relationship is with my husband. And I’ve been ignoring this relationship for months. I’ve been on auto-pilot at home. Days turn into weeks, weeks turn into months and the next thing you know, you feel far apart from your best friend. For no good reason!  

My next most important relationship, that with my son, should be getting more of the time and attention I’ve been pouring into my job and relationships with others. Wake. Up. Call.

Would you pray for me as I transition back into the best priorities? It’s not going to be easy for me to put down achievement-based striving. I hate to admit that, but there it is.

I think when I fall back into task-based priorities, the enemy gets a foothold and begins to create problems in my mind where none exist. Over-thinking all the “things” I have to do causes me to ignore all the “people” God placed in my life. Anyone else?

Let’s pray together: Father, thank You for showing me this problem today. I praise You for allowing the Holy Spirit to open my eyes to ways the enemy works so easily in my life. Help me, O God, to place people as my priorities. Lift me, O Lord, to feel Your heart for those around me. Let the to-do list fall away. Let the tasks take the back seat to the relationships You want me to cultivate and pour into. Let me love others like Jesus. Speak loudly to me when I am slipping back into old habits that have nothing to do with You. Remind me, Father, of the love and compassion you lavished on me so that I can pour the same out onto my family first, others next. Lord, that You would so sweetly correct me so that I can turn things around is astounding to me. That You love me enough to change me is a miracle. May I never take it for granted. Teach me to walk in Your will, Father, for You are an awesome and mighty God – and I am Your servant. In Jesus’ name. Amen!

Drop a comment and I’ll pray for you, too!