Refined: Better Together, Day Eight

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.“

Matthew 6:33-34

We all have responsibilities in many different arenas–school, home, work, and church. Sometimes our schedules and the demands of others can feel overwhelming! While the world may tell us we need to “hustle” or “make it happen,” God does not. He didn’t create us to be sustainers, but rather servants. We cannot serve well when we are stretched in 20 directions. We need to know what God has asked us to do in each season of life. Once we identify those things, we can be fully present for them.

Being “present over perfect” means we aren’t caught up in what we aren’t doing, but what we are. We see the people and commitments right in front of us at that very moment, and we give it our all.

Are you mentally or physically absent from important things because you are overwhelmed with life? When your calendar is full, your heart usually isn’t. Has it been a reaaaalllly long time since you’ve been on a date with your spouse? What about playing on the floor with your kids? Stop today and ask God where you need to invest more and let go of the need to be perfect.

Let’s Pray:

1.) What is an area of your life–church, work, home, marriage–where you know you need to invest more? Journal about what has prevented you from being present in this area. 

2.) What do you tend to worry about? Is it kids, finances, or maybe your work performance? Confess these worries to God today, and let him tell you the truth about the situation. 

3.) Are you carrying hurt from a relationship where someone has not treated you as their priority? Look up bible verses on forgiveness and allow God to heal that wound with His words to you.