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I Chronicles 16:11
“Seek the Lord and His strength. Seek His face continually.”
Have you ever been in a place in your life when you felt like you just could not get it all done? I think most moms have been there at least one time or another in their lives.
Time management from a biblical perspective is not about the challenge to manage time—at the end of the day, it’s not time management, it’s me management, right? The issue is not a lack of discipline usually, either. The problem is that we can struggle to keep our priorities straight in our hearts and minds.
Today I want to encourage you to make the most of every opportunity. Make a list of the things you need to do and bring them before the Lord. We read that we need to seek the Lord’s strength continually. What I love about this is that when we do it, when we really seek the Lord’s face continually, we’re not drawing on our own strength, we’re drawing on the Lord’s strength.
The Bible says that God’s strength is made perfect in weakness. If you feel weak today, be encouraged! You’re right where God wants you! You’re right where He can use you the most.
Take a moment today, get on your knees before the Lord and give Him your list. Ask Him to show you His priorities for your day, so that as you make your plans, the Lord can direct your steps.
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Thank you, Heidi, for your words of encouragement. You are a blessing to me and my family.
Hi Carmen! You’re welcome 🙂 I’m glad you’re here!
Dear Heidi,
I am thankful for your encouragement to seek The Lord first and most, through His word. I woke up this morning and read 1 Peter 3 & 4. I was thinking about the high calling (and Spirit enabled ability) The Lord has given us to be subject to our own husbands, with respectful and pure conduct, adorned in the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit.
That can only come from His strength, from seeking Him and His kingdom, from submitting to God’s plan and letting Him direct my steps.
Thank you for reminding me to bow my heart before Him, through reading His word and in prayer daily.
I recently read this quote from C.S. Lewis on another blog, and I thought it fit well with what you have encouraged us with today.
“The great thing, if one can, is to stop regarding all the unpleasant things as interruptions of one’s ‘own,’ or ‘real’ life. The truth is of course that what one calls the interruptions are precisely one’s real life—the life God is sending one day by day; what one calls one’s ‘real life’ is a phantom of one’s own imagination. This at least is what I see at moments of insight: but it’s hard to remember it all the time.”
The verse you shared can spur us on in remembering this today. I am praying that I will seek His will, through His strength, so that I might submit my plans to Him, letting Him direct my steps fulfilling His priorities for today. 🙂
I love that quote—thanks for sharing what God is doing in your heart. It’s encouraging to see HIM at work, isn’t it?
So true,Heidi. I have had anxiety welling up in me over “how will I get it all done?” on many occasions. I can testify that when I have taken time with Jesus first,he can orchestrate my time to get done what needs to be done,with peace to boot!
Hi Sarah! Yes—I think that “mommy anxiety” is universal. It’s amazing what happens when we give our “to do” list to the Lord. 🙂 Keep following Him!
Thank you for your little words of encouragement. As a mom of 4, I find I struggle getting through my “to do” list each day (especially with a baby who naps so sporadically!). And this tends to stress me out! But I know that the top of my to do list should be to seek God’s face. Thanks for reminding me!
Hi Kristin—you’re welcome 🙂 We all need the reminder. I know I need it… every day. I’m glad you’re here!
Hi Heidi! Thank you for sharing your morning devotions! I’m excited to read/listen to these. Time management is def something I struggle with as a mother to 3 little boys under 5yrs. I’m sad to say that I’ve never brought my daily list of “to do’s” to The Lord. I pray to Him about certain things ill be doing through out the day but never have I given him my whole to do list and see what he has done with it! This morning ill be doing that and I’m excited to lean on his strength for my whole day instead of the parts I decide to share with him. -heather
Hi Heather! Welcome 🙂 I’m so excited to hear what God does as you ask for His direction… keep me posted!
Heidi, This is a concept that I am constantly trying to remember…yet always seem to forget! I find myself stressed out and frustrated, an then I realize it ha been weeks since I really evaluated my “to do” list against God’s Word and taken it to him in prayer. Sometimes I wonder if I will ever learn. It’s a good thing we serve a Gracious God!
Hi Donna! Boy, that’s the truth! I’ve been there many times too. We serve a wonderful Savior. Blessings to you today!
I am so excited that you are doing this, and looking forward to spending my mornings with the Lord through this avenue. I was JUST sharing with another busy mom how much I struggle with Time Management, and often the first thing I let slip is my time with the Lord. Thank you for reminding me that I can come to HIM and HEAR him still in the often LOUDNESS of mothering these little ones! Blessings!
Thank you for a good word in due time! I am looking forward to getting I the word with you! I love the point that you made about getting “quiet time with The Lord” even amidst the chaos of raising 8 little blessings! I always feel like if I don’t have my crack of dawn quiet time (which has eluded me since the birth of number 8 – 2 1/2 months ago) that I am “missing God”. Thank you for the encouragement!
I just spent a few hours with my newborn grandson and it’s funny how quickly those exhausting days can get you down. Rest when you can. ((hugs))
Heidi,
Key word being, “continually.” Such a needed reminder as I begin this day and this week. Thank the Lord for His amazing ministry through you!
Sharon
Hi Sharon – that’s the trick, isn’t it? It’s amazing how quickly I can forget this as well. Keep walking with Him 🙂 ((hugs))
Lena here is a great source of encouragement!!
Natalie Duran check this out!
“The problem is that we can struggle to keep our priorities straight in our hearts and minds.”
Sooo true for me today (with 4 kids ages 6 and under) in the middle of the potty accidents and the bowl of soup spilled on the floor and the dog digging in the backyard and the homeschool “interruptions” . . . Sometimes I bring God my “very good” priorities and these “interruptions” change everything. My response is critical: Is my agenda a “god” to me? Or do I seek God’s face and ask ‘How should I respond in love to my children when this happens?’ ‘How might God be changing my plans to give me a chance to show His grace to this child?’ ‘How might God be whittling away at my own demands that things go according to my plan and teaching me more of submission to Him and trust in His perfect way?’ . . . I admit I didn’t always choose to seek His face today. But if I were seeking his face continually, I would be more sensitive to His leading and His exchanging my well-laid plans for a greater good.
I Chronicles 16:11 “Seek the Lord and His strength. Seek His face continually.”
I am so looking forward to your podcasts. This first one was so encouraging. Just what I needed to hear as I start my busy week.
Thank you!
Thank you for sharing your devotions. My children don’t sleep through the night, so my morning time has gone by the wayside. This morning, as I was reading this first one, my son came downstairs- and as I’m offering my to do list, Little Man gets on the sofa with me and starts playing his favorite game. Okay Lord, your priority for me today is loving on my son. I hear you!
BTW, my mom always said, “Life is what happens when you’re making other plans.” Sounds like a summary of the CS Lewis quote and your devotional. 🙂
Thank you, Heidi. I needed this.
Jill
Taking my to do list with the Lord TODAY!! Thank you for sharing! I love the audio version!
Hi Adriana! I’m so glad you’re enjoying it 🙂 Keep taking that list to Him!
Thank you so much for these encouraging words. The Lord should always come first in my life, sometimes I forget to ask him to show me what I need to do. Thanks for reminding me that even in making out my To Do list by seeking God’s wisdom on what must be done I am making my day so much easier.
Jessica
The Lord works anywhere & everywhere through His Spirit! I recently sang “Strangly Dim” by Francesca Batastali (sp?) at church. Before I sang the song I talked about something similar. My Kindergatener is learning about God making me & everything for His own glory. Then my 4th grader is learning about our omnipotent, omnipresent & omniscient God. I got to thinking about the two concepts together. This is the concluding thought: When we are God’s glory & He is with us all the time, then our plans need to include Him always. Then our anxiety would grow faint because He is in control.
Good words, Christen! Welcome 🙂
Awesome! I read this a little late, but in God nothing is ever late. Just had a baby 4 weeks ago, got my homeschooler & the other that goes to regular school (per FL statutes, not mine!). I’ve been trying to find that time, that spot where it’s all quiet and I can have this time…just didn’t know what to do with it. I GOT IT now.
<3 Love this Elianitza.