Discover the Joy of Doing Less

This year for Christmas I received two meaningful home decor items. One is the word HOPE in metal letters and the other is a sign that says "SIMPLIFY". Wow, do I ever need to ponder both of these. Finding simplicity in my crazy life almost seems impossible. But, I am determined this year to find it. Pray for me that I will be obedient in this journey to simplicity.

We miss out on God’s best for us because we are swallowed up in an endless array of duties, responsibilities and service. This “activity” often steals our creativity, our fun time, our joy and leaves us physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually depleted. God has a beautiful invitation to all who find themselves caught up in a lifestyle of too many things to do with not enough time to do them. Through Isaiah, God issues an invitation to all who are too busy to enjoy His peace and joy:

Isaiah 55:1a, 6, 8,
“Come, everyone who is thirsty, come to the waters… Seek the Lord while He may be found; call to Him while He is near. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not My ways.

If you feel anxious, pressured or depleted by the demands placed on your life right now, God has something better in mind for you. Too little time is not the problem. The core of the problem may be having too much to do! And through accepting the invitation of the Lord to come to Him, He will give you His thoughts about the scheduling of your time. God does not want you to do every good thing. That’s why you must check His thinking and seek His counsel in everything you do.

For me, the revelation about what should occupy my days comes in my quiet time as I pray over each item on my daily schedule. More than once, He has impressed me to strike something off my list.

I believe God wants us to learn to enjoy His fellowship at a more relaxed pace. For some reason, we busy women equate being busy for God as being productive for Him. But He is showing me that I’m more productive when I’m less busy and more relaxed.

Check your life. Are you overcommitted? Take time with the Lord to seek His direction. And remember, making sure you’re less busy will help you have more time for sitting at the feet of our Master, and that’s to our advantage!

2008: Year of Hope

On the way to work, I saw these words written on a sign. It said, "Hope Is Real." As I pondered the simple little phrase, I realized that for many people hope is not real. This is perhaps one of the most important gifts we can give to another person, the gift of hope.

You see, someone who is hopeless and alone usually cannot help themselves out of their situations. There is a great sense of loss and helplessness. We must come alongside and bring the good news of Jesus Christ and all that He has to offer.

John 10:10
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

One definition for hope is: To look forward to with confidence or expectation. We must bring the Word of God with all its hope to someone who does not know it is real. When we bring hope, we bring life. It is life changing to finally believe again.

"I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living." Psalm 27:13 NIV

There are so many people who have lost hope... so many hurts, problems, sicknesses, troubles, financial woes, family problems, world issues, political concerns, etc. It seems the world has no hope.

Apart from God, it is an awful, hopeless place. But with God's help, we can make it.

I want you to know that whatever situation you find yourself in at this moment, there is hope. You may not be able to see or feel the hope, but it is there for you. How do we find the hope? There is only one place where hope can be found, and that is in Jesus Christ.

A word search in the Bible for the word 'hope' yields many wonderful passages - mostly in Psalms and Proverbs of course. David found himself in situations many times and had to remind himself that Hope is Real. It comes from God. Here are a few of David's prayers to God:

Psalm 42: 11 NIV "Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God."

Psalm 25: 4,5 NLT "Show me the path where I should walk, O LORD; point out the right road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you."

Psalm 25: 3 NIV "No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame,"

Psalm 33: 18 NIV "But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,"

Psalm 119: 49 NLT "Remember your promise to me, for it is my only hope."

Here are a few key scriptures that help us to understand what we need to do. Words like "be strong, take courage, wait, reverently and worshipfully fear God, tarry for the hope, wait patiently for it, and be joyful in hope. They are all action words we need to work on. Read these scriptures out loud during your devotional times. Watch how hope will come alive in your heart as you speak the Word of God over yourself and your situation.

Psalm 31:24 AMP "Be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for and hope for and expect the Lord!"

Isaiah 40: 31NLT "But those who wait on the LORD will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint."

Romans 8:24b, 25 NIV " But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently."

Romans 12: 12 NIV "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."

Pray out loud the words of hope into your life and your situations. I have hope! My hope is in the Lord! I will be strong and wait on the Lord. I trust God with my life and the life of my family. Speak these words every day. Hope Is Real. It comes from God! He has placed it in your heart. Speak it out and watch what God will do for you.

Romans 15: 13 "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
What is your need today? Is it for a financial blessing, healing in your body, a new job, a house or car, etc?
Whatever it is, take it to Jesus today.
Is there someone in your life today that needs encouraging?

Speak the Words of hope that bring life. Hope Is Real, just try it.

Let's declare 2008 as a year of HOPE.