Every so often I see something that gets my attention and then starts me thinking. That happened the other morning. My email inbox had a devotional from YouVersion. Since I use their app for some of my Bible reading, I wanted to see what they had for me. And I was surprised. It was a headline.

You weren’t created for a life you don’t have time for.

MEDIAlliance is in the middle of some of our busiest days. International conferences, a Summit, fundraising, many opportunities and much planning, and… oh, yes…family time. Very busy days. And there are those moments where you wonder where the time will come from to get everything done. (No one has yet invented a way to stretch 24 hours into something longer.)

But there is important ministry, and there are important moments with family. And… we all need some “me” time. What do we do?

To be honest, there will be times that are busier than others. There will be special events and occasions that call for an extra measure of time and energy. But that shouldn’t be the norm. The folks at YouVersion explained:

“God created us for purposeful work. But there’s a difference between doing meaningful work and letting that work become our identity. The second we cross the line, we’re caught in a vicious cycle.”

Does that sound familiar? That busyness that crosses the line? Dr. Henry Blackaby addressed that in one of his devotionals in Experiencing God Day by Day. He compares the busyness of Martha to the quiet devotion of her sister Mary.

“It is good to want to serve Christ as an expression of love for what He has done for you. Yet when your activity consumes your time and energies so that you have no time for Him, you have become too busy!”

Blackaby goes on to talk about the balance we need in our lives.

“We are not called to continually sit at the feet of Jesus, otherwise our service for Him would cease. Neither are we called to serve Him incessantly, without taking time to find restoration in His presence.”

Here are some suggestions from YouVersion on how to find a way to do that…to manage your ministry time, family time, personal time, and God time.

  • Find your why. Don’t let everything that comes along demand your time and your energy. What is it that God has called and gifted you to do? Focus on that and leave time for the Lord.
  • Schedule it on your calendar. Without being totally legalistic, carve out specific times when you are alone with the Lord, in His Word, listening to His voice. For many, that is in the early morning hours when there are fewer opportunities for distraction.
  • Give yourself something to look forward to. When you schedule time to rest, plan to do something that brings you joy or peace. Enjoying God’s nature. Being creative. Refreshment for the soul.
  • Be relentless. It is easy to let that valuable time of rest…stillness with the Lord…slip away. Protect the time, and relentlessly pursue a time of quiet rest.

YouVersion closed their devotional with these important thoughts:

  • Rest helps us enjoy God’s presence and realign our priorities.
  • Rest allows us to trust that God is working even when we aren’t.

Jesus said it best.

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”

Matthew 11:28 NLT

Remember…you weren’t created for a life you don’t have time for.

God’s best…