“Be still, and know that I am God.” — Psalm 46:10
As I look ahead to the week, one thing is certain—my calendar is FULL!
Between small groups, Wednesday night dinner and Bible study, preparing for our Fall Festival Hoedown on Friday (including rehearsal on Thursday), and all the Halloween activities on Saturday, it’s going to be a busy week!
I’m also playing music Wednesday in Canton, Friday in Loganville and at our Hoedown, and Saturday night in Conyers. Somewhere in all of that, I need to prepare my sermon and devotions on prayer and fasting for Sunday, write my Monday devotion, and get ready for Wednesday Coffee with Paul.
Please, don’t misunderstand me. I’m not complaining! These are all wonderful opportunities, and I’m thankful for every one of them. But honestly, I’m starting to feel a little overwhelmed. And I have a feeling I’m not alone.
Many of you have schedules just as full as mine. Between work, family, church, and everything else life throws our way, it’s easy to get caught up in the busyness of it all.
But here’s something we need to remember – we can become so busy doing things for God that we forget to spend time with God.
Remember the story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10:38–42? Martha was busy serving, preparing, and making sure everything was just right. Meanwhile, Mary was sitting at the feet of Jesus, listening to His words.
Martha wasn’t doing anything wrong. Her work was important! But Jesus gently reminded her that Mary had chosen what mattered most. I wonder how often we find ourselves acting like Martha when we really need to be a little more like Mary.
There’s nothing wrong with being busy, especially when we’re serving others and doing the Lord’s work. But even good things can distract us from the most important thing—our relationship with Jesus.
In the middle of decorating, cooking, planning, meetings, rehearsals, and running from one activity to another, God still invites us to slow down and spend a little time with Him. He doesn’t just want our service. He wants our hearts.
So, as we go through this busy week, let’s remember three simple things:
- Pause — Take a few moments each day to be still before the Lord. Everything doesn’t have to be done right this minute.
- Listen — Don’t let the noise of a busy schedule drown out God’s voice. Sometimes we need to be quiet long enough to hear Him.
- Remember — The most important thing we bring to any activity isn’t our talent, our preparation, or even our hard work. It’s a heart that has spent time with Jesus.
One final thing. By the end of the week, the Fall Festival decorations will come down, the food will be eaten, the music will fade, and the activities will be over. But the time we spend with Jesus will continue to strengthen us long after the week is finished.
So, let’s enjoy the activities, serve with gladness, and be thankful for every opportunity God gives us. But in all our busyness, let’s not get so busy doing things for Jesus that we forget to spend time with Jesus. After all, sometimes the most important thing on our calendar is simply being still in His presence.