My addiction habit began forming a long time ago when I was just a young girl in junior high. To escape a less-than-perfect broken home and to try and numb the emotional pain I was feeling from the fallout, I soon discovered busyness. Yes sir, sign me up for cheer leading, the school newspaper, Glee Club, National Honor Society, basketball, my local youth group, volunteer work and a part–time job! Was this enough? You think! By the time I had graduated high school I was part of more activities than a set of triplets should be. Too bad that I carried this habit into my adult years.
In my defense, today we all dwell in a society that not only encourages us to have a busy lifestyle, we are even rewarded for it! And what girl in her right mind doesn’t want an “’you go girl” every now and then? If I were going any slower, all of you would label me a freeloader or slacker!
If left unchecked, my busyness can crowd out the most important things in my life—God and my family. I have had to learn the hard way that in order to be an effective woman of God, wife and mother, I need to not only slow down, regularly scraping commitments off of my too full plate, but sometimes I need to stop altogether. As I sit writing this, I am outside at a lovely retreat center on a hill overlooking its grape arbor and pear and apple orchards. My take-life-slow husband (believe me, he has not always been this way himself!)strongly suggested I come here from time to time to get alone with God; to read, gather my thoughts, maybe write and reflect. I walk the area in quiet grounds in solitude. I do not have the company of a television set or my computer or ringing cell phone. The only blessings I have are peace and quiet.I will be honest with you and say it has taken me YEARS to get used to this break away from my life for brief 24-48 hour periods of time every year. I pick and argue while I pack, saying “What about the kids? Will they be ok while I'm gone? Maybe I should just stay home. I could get so caught up around here with all of this time!” But Christ reassures me. “Come with me by yourselves….” Alone. By myself and for myself. It is for my own good. Remember, this is necessary. And in the end, it is better for you and your family to have a more rested, focused and refreshed mother. On my retreat I can better hear God whom I have realized most often prefers not to scream over the top of my busyness but instead to whisper to me in the quiet storm.
You may asked but if this really necessary for me? Yes, in your Christian life retreat is required. You running full steam ahead at a Energizer bunny speed is not only stupid, it is so dangerous. Even our Lord Jesus had his regular times of rest and getaway time. You need to follow His lead. I have come to realize the truth of the saying, “If Satan can’t make you bad, he’ll make you busy.” And dear one, both of these state of minds render us useless and ineffective for the kingdom. Decide today that very soon you too will cease, retreat and refuel as I have. Believe me, you won’t regret it.
Dear Lord, Forgive me for ignoring Your command to come away with You for a while. Please arrange my circumstances soon so that I might spend uninterrupted time with you. May I drink deep of Your lavish love and reflect the calm and comfort I receive to others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Some resources for you:
Do You Know Him?
A Life That Says Welcome by Karen Ehman
The Air I Breathe by Louie Gigilio
Steps for you to put into Action:
Put your pen to paper and draw a pie chart of your life. What percentage of the time do you spend each month on these activities: working—away or at home; sleeping; eating; taking care of the kids; cleaning up; going to church; other outside activities such as hobbies; Internet or television, etc…? Now, how much time do you spend alone with God? I don’t mean “going to church and church activities” I mean you, God and your Bible, a journal, some worship music and maybe a classic Christian book? Just the two of you together, no distractions......Now take a look at your chart. What can/will you do to change this?
Some of my wonderful ideas.....awwww you knew it was coming......Smile
Plan today for a retreat in your future. Come on, be creative. While all towns may not have an inexpensive retreat center open to the general public, with some ingenious thinking, you can come up with a great plan. A hotel room, library conference room, church Sunday School classroom or out of the way coffee shop are all places of possibility that come to mind and believe me have been utilized in my early years. Maybe, you are a mother with small kids at home ... trade with one of your girlfriends and you will not regret it. We all need some me time. Maybe one day you watch all of your children at her house while she uses your place for a
To help you focus and forget your worries for a while, try this: Make a prioritized list of all of the things you’d like to accomplish at home and all of the items needing your attention when you return. Fold up the paper, place it in an envelope and mentally and physically leave it home when you go away to retreat. Tell God that you’d love to forget about all of those issues and focus on Him for the next period of time. Knowing your never ending “to do” list is all made out and waiting for you when you get home will help to keep your mind focused on God.
These are powerful verses for you.....Smile
Matthew 11:28-29 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, 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.” (NIV)
Psalm 131:1-2 “My heart is not proud, O LORD, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me. (NIV)
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