What's Important

We've moved my mother-in-law from her home to a senior community, held a moving sale, and now we're getting ready to put her house up for sale.  Change is difficult, especially when it comes to moving from the place on earth we call home.  But.  It's more than a change of location, it's surprising to be in the season of life  where there's less time ahead of us than behind us. Time moves quickly, whether we want it to or not; what we do with the time is up to us.

These changes for our family have made me more mindful of the gift of the day, never intended to be wasted by useless living, but to be treasured and celebrated.  

I've learned, by experience,  a great portion of wasted living is derived from worrying about what comes next.  When we've chosen to live in the reality of the presence of God, worry is needless. There's a bigger picture than what we can see in the moment, God-reality.  But.  When there's a question mark about the future, it's not always easy to forge ahead without worrying about what's in front of us.

Consider what Jesus said to the disciples: 
Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? (Luke 12: 24-26, TNIV).

Jesus' words in Luke 12 were specifically directed to the disciples.  The question is worth meditating on, "Why do you worry about the rest?"  Verse 34 spells out Jesus' point: "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Luke 12: 34 TNIV)."

The thing is . . . what we live for, what we focus on, what really is important to us . . . is found in the heart.  

The heart tells our story.  If, we're consumed with worry, we've lost sight of the bigger picture.  I'm not saying it's easy to live without worry, I'm saying it's necessary in order to live the life God has planned for us.  To make adjustments to the heart, we need to take a break, focusing on the reality of the presence of God, asking questions:  What's in my heart today?  Am I preoccupied with God or self?  Am I wasting my time worrying or am I relaxed with the belief God is God? 

Focus on what's important in life.
Take a God-break.
Step into the reality of God's presence.
Let go of any worry which you've attached yourself to.
See the big picture of God-reality.
Relax.
Believe God is God.

Learning to Kickstart the day focused on what's important, the reality of God,
Kerrie

(written by Kerrie Carlisle Palmer © 2011 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)