My Lord and My God, these days can be long for me,
but no weariness is found in You. The tasks before me are many, yet with Your help I see them through.
Soaking in Your presence my soul receives refreshment. You fill me sufficiently to complete all I have before me!
Focus of the Month: Ordinary Women with Extraordinary Hope
It takes a lot of work to pull off a “real” surprise party. There’s the planning, prepping, a little bit of trickery – to the honoree- and a whole lot of help! It can seem like an impossible feat. However, if you take the time to work out the details in advance, have the proper people in place, and a solid plan decided upon…you will have a successful event! My attempts at these types of functions are not always perfect, but when I am fully invested, I am better equipped to perform to the best of my ability.
Are we always invested in those areas of our life that need our attention the most? Do we prepare, plan, and work out the details joyfully? By devoting the proper care to the things of which we are called to do, we cannot only succeed in them, but have energy to spare. How? Let’s think about that together.
If we can agree all our work is ultimately for the Lord and not for man, then how we approach it matters. Let’s reflect on this scripture from Proverbs 31 to begin understanding “how” we can be equipped to persevere in our day to day caring for our families and others.
She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. (Proverbs 31: 17, 25-27)
At first glance we might look at our jobs, our piles of paperwork, laundry, chores and to-do lists as life draining tasks – things to just “get through”. But we are women created by the Most High God! We are equipped for good works, we are clothed with strength through Christ, and He has prepared us ahead of time to be more than women who just get by.
We have the tools to thrive, to work in excellence, and to accomplish great things. We can be confident in this because we have a God who is sufficient.
He is our ever present help. (Psalm 46:1) He is “how” we persevere at all times. But if we don’t come to Him, we can’t be given strength. If we don’t pray for wisdom, we have no faithful instruction to give. If we sit in idleness today…we will have twice as much waiting for us tomorrow.
We can protect the areas of our life that matter most by protecting our time with Jesus. He fills us to overflowing! Let us be women of confidence who allow our talents to develop and watch over what has been given us with joy and delight. Let us not grow weary in doing all that is required today so that the fruit of tomorrow will prosper and endure.
Holding Fast to Hope,
Jen
Scripture References: Proverbs 31:17, Proverbs 31:25-27; 2 Timothy 3:17; Psalm 46:1; Matthew 25:21