“It’s time to cuddle the puppy, Mommy.”
It’s the first thing my daughter wants to do with me in the morning. Morning cuddles with our dog. My daughter’s wake up time happens to be my most productive time. I’m wired to think deeply about one thing at a time. Being called to go back and forth between projects and activities is not how I function the best. Is it how anyone does?! I have the feeling some people may roll with it more easily than me, though. It’s taken me years to be able to peacefully (most of the time) switch between thinking and working deeply on a project and being interrupted for what I’m now convinced are more important callings.
Since I’ve been a stay-at-home mom who has also tried to work from home for fourteen years, it’s been a skill I’ve had to work on.
A question that has helped me throughout the years and continues to help me is, “Am I doing what matters most right now?”
A second question to follow is, “If not, have I made time to do what matters most?” Because sometimes we can’t immediately stop what we’re doing, but we can make time and plan to do those things that matter most.
We’re living through a terrible time in our country right now. It’s also a terribly good and important time to ask these questions. I don’t want to squander this unique moment in time when I can step back from “normal” life and more easily evaluate and make changes.
This post isn’t about what your focus should be. I believe we all have it in us to figure that out with the help of the Lord for each of our own particular life situations.
This post is meant to spark a time of prayer over and an awareness of what we feel God is leading us to focus on in life. Our focus should be lead first and foremost by His Word. It can also be lead by circumstances, conversations with others, godly counsel, and prayer.
For me personally, a persistent theme has pursued me since following Christ. I’ve been convicted in my heart to evaluate what I think I need or want in any given moment and what I’m called to do as a follower of Christ with the people God has put in my life.
In this situation, I ended up stopping my work and cuddling the dog with my daughter. We had a delightful conversation and I made a smoothie for her and served it to her. I knew in my heart that for that moment, turning toward my daughter and being willing to sacrifice my concentration on that particular project was what God was leading me to do. I knew it because over the years, I had been made aware and convicted of my frustration over interruptions and my lack of desire to stop and serve my family. I knew it because God’s Word has called me to love others deeply from the heart and to love others as I have been loved. This is not easy for me, but asking hard questions and slowing down has helped me to cooperate with what the Holy Spirit does.
If you struggle as I do to move toward what you sense God wants to see in your life, let’s remember together that it is OK. That just means we recognize that we need the Lord’s help. He wants us to recognize our dependence on Him, so perhaps it would be good at this time to focus on HIM rather than ourselves.
Be encouraged as you remember what the Holy Spirit does in and for His people:
“I will ask the Father to give you another Helper, to be with you always. He is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees him nor recognizes him. But you recognize him, because he lives with you and will be in you.” -John 14:15-17
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything that I have told you.” -John 14:26
“In the same way, the Spirit also joins to help in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with unspoken groanings.” -Romans 8:26
If you are struggling to make wise choices with time, remember the truths from above that you have a helper who lives in you, helps you, and prays for you. He also works in you to will and to work for His good pleasure.
“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” -Philippians 2:12-13
If you, like me, find that you have developed habits that don’t line up with what He calls his people to or what He may be calling you to personally, remember His grace. Some of us may find ourselves to be unable to do what we think matters most right now. Maybe that’s due to the impact the current crisis has had on us. Maybe it’s due to a health crisis or relationship crisis. Again, remember His grace.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” -Ephesians 2:8-9
Let’s begin to begin again to live out what we believe is true about Christ and those who are in Christ. Not in order to gain any salvation or blessing, but out of love and thankfulness for all He’s done and is doing. And if current situations don’t allow for immediate change, how can we move toward that in small steps or what kind of tentative and prayerful plans can we make for the future?
Blessings to you as you ponder what the Lord is encouraging you to move toward during this unique time. Do you have a child, spouse, or loved one who might benefit from this question being asked at the proper time in the proper way?
Questions can cause us to think, help us come up with answers, and motivate us to take action. Asking moves us to apply our creative skills to a problem or an area that we desire to change. Join me each week over the summer as I post a series of important questions that we can ask ourselves and our loved ones.
If you would like more questions to ask yourself and others, sign up for my newsletter below and you’ll receive a free booklet I’ve put together called Asking Is Loving as well as a free course on being transformed by God’s Word called Empowered By Truth.
I’m linking up with these amazing bloggers this week:
“Let us begin to begin again.” I love that thought, and the way it is so true of facing each morning with Jesus to guide and comfort us in every moment. Thank you for the encouragement you have offered here today.
Hi Bettie! I have to give credit to an old pastor of mine. He used to remind us if we ever found ourselves not practicing a spiritual discipline, we could just begin to begin again! Blessings to you as you begin again at things…giving yourself grace when you find you have forgotten how you want to live.
Amy – Your post was packed with so many nuggets of truth. You have me thinking about interruptions and leaning in more to see what the Holy spirit as in mind. Thank you for linking up with Grace & Truth Link-Up. I am going to feature your post on Friday.
Blessings,
Maree
Thank you so much, Marree! And thank you for your awesome link-up!
Such solid questions, Amy – I’ll write them where I can read them regularly. xoxo
Hi Sue, thanks for visiting!
In the past, I have found myself annoyed by the interruptions. But you’re so right. Is what I’m working on more important than the time I spend with family? Not likely. Thanks for such a great reminder.
Hi Wendy, I love your reminders about kindness in your recent post. We all need reminders, don’t we? 🙂
This is something I wrestle with often. My desk is off the dining room, and there’s no door. So when the rest of the family walks through, they often stop in and speak to me. When I am really concentrating on something, I’m afraid I don’t welcome the interruption. I have to remind myself that people are more important than tasks, and these are the people God has given me as my first ministry.
I’m glad I’m not alone in the struggle. I think we also have to remind ourselves that concentrating on something is a good thing. I’m trying to communicate my needs to my family before the interruptions happen. Blessings as you seek to serve the Lord as well as your family!
I ask these questions so often. Am I doing what God wants me to be doing right now in this season? The answer is often that I’ve shifted slightly off course. I love that we can begin again! Thanks for the reminder. It’s always great finding you in the Grace and Truth link up!
Blessings to you as you begin to begin again! Thanks Tiffany!
Amy, isn’t it funny how our family, our first priority, seem to interrupt our “productive” times. I certainly need the Lord to choose well and to love well.
It is — and it is something I suppose I’ll wrestle with my entire life. Perhaps it isn’t a bad thing. Just something that helps us grow. Blessings to you as you consider it.
Amy, I love your two questions. I’ve often reflected on if I was giving what matters most the prority in my life. But I didn’t personalize it enough as in your first question: “Am I doing what matters most right now?” The right now is what stumps me. Because I relate to sometimes pushing that aside for what I think needs to be accomplished in the moment.
What will matter most is not how much the scale says, our looks, accolades, awards, business success, or how productive we were. No, what will matter most is if we loved people well and served the Lord faithfully.
So true. And I think as I reflect on the question, even more, this week I sense it’s important to remember that sometimes we must choose to do the less important as well. We have to work, get our hair cut, and get the groceries, etc. at some point. It’s just good to constantly remember our priorities. Perhaps that will at least move us to stop and listen for a moment…or longer…or be gentle when we’re frustrated due to being faced with the challenge of prioritizing our options. Blessings to you, Karen!