HEART WORK
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV)
When I was a young mother, I struggled with feelings of inadequacy and comparison. The routine days of bottle washing, naptime and running a household left me questioning the significance of my efforts each day. I would see other mothers juggling playdates and PTA fundraisers, wondering how they found time to paint their nails and why their toddlers never looked disheveled. Meanwhile, I’m living off cheap coffee and minimal sleep. Jealousy crept in, followed by resentment. What was my purpose? Surely it was more than matching socks from the laundry basket or picking up Matchbox cars for the umpteenth time. I wasted precious time seeking approval from others, when all the while Jesus was patiently waiting to teach me that my efforts to nurture my children and care for the needs of my home were never wasted. He intentionally entrusted me with those blessings, and I began to learn that everything I do is for His glory.
We glorify God when we recognize our need for Him. He doesn’t expect us to carry burdens we were never meant to bear. He calls us to lay our burdens at His feet and cast our anxieties on Him. The God of the universe, who sent His son as payment for our sins, didn’t reject us for our shortcomings and didn’t leave us to fend for ourselves. He gave everything so we could be with Him. He also calls us to surrender our personal ambitions and prioritize Him. When He becomes our priority, everything else falls into place. Prioritizing Him means loving Him with all our heart, soul and mind, and loving our neighbors as ourselves. It means spending time with Him and seeking Him by reading and studying His Word. He is faithful to reveal more of Himself as we follow Him. Over time, we will begin to look less like ourselves and more like Him.
APPLICATION: Ask a trusted friend, someone who knows you well, how they see you prioritizing God in your life.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I am humbled and thankful for Your great love for me. I don’t deserve it, but You freely offer it to me. Help me seek You at the beginning of each day and help me be mindful to keep You as my priority. I confess my need for You and trust that You are always in control. Amen.
"… Our Father in heaven…" Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
• What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
"… may your name be kept holy." Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
• What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
"May your Kingdom come soon." Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
• Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
"Give us today the food we need," Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
• Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I'm around today?
"and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us" Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
• Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
"And don't let us yield to temptation…" Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
• Is there anywhere I'm vulnerable to temptation?