Our lives, in almost every season of the year, are filled with lists of “should do’s” and “could do’s” that rush into a shouting match with our true “want to’s”. Living a life booked up with only what we should do can be stressing and draining.

Filling life with what we really want to be doing will sprinkle our lives with more moments of joy and satisfaction. Yet most of us don’t fight for what those things we truly want to be doing to happen.

My fear is that as we enter any season that is hurried, stretching thin our budget, time and patience, that the loudest pressure around us will become the victor of our time.  In this season we feel the squeeze of wanting to do it all and to slow it down. Wanting to please everyone outside our house and wanting to just cling to our little ones at home. Wanting to be part of celebrations and busyness but also wanting them to be meaningful. At these pressure times, it is vitally important to consider what voices we are bending to.

 

 

One positive, life-giving voice in my life is someone I’ve only shaken hands with (but now have met). In “Own Your Life,” author Sally Clarkson talks about the negative voices from past and present that are critical and discouraging. They keep us doing what we “should” do to live up to someone else’s standard. They remind us we are not good enough. Those phantom words drifting through our minds snuff out those purposeful things that God has created us to do. Those moments when you find yourself saying, “I could do this all day!” or “I wish I could get paid to do this!”

 

As grown-ups we’ve often stuffed what’s fun or joyful behind in the toy boxes of the past or for the hope chests of the future. We don’t enjoy life enough now where we’re living it.

 

So as I face a planner page scribbled with an extremely full week, I want to make sure I don’t lose sight of my true goals by choosing to listen to the positive voices- those leadings from the Lord and those around me who encourage me to follow those leadings. For me the life goals are: Being a disciple; Renewing hearts and minds; Restoring the family. I will keep laying down things I think someone might want me to do or be expecting, to be still, and invest time in my true goals for the Kingdom.

For example, I am choosing this week not to make and sell something I have been taking orders for each year. I realized I feared disappointing others over keeping balance in my house or in our homeschooling. I am choosing not to bake tons of stuff with the kids to gift in order to “make memories.” We would all really rather snuggle for a movie or do a simple craft. I want to make all handmade gifts, but I want to finish the 2 books I’m reading more, and no one will mind if I don’t. I could meet with more people this week but know as an introvert I need rest to enter an important weekend event without stress. Those are all good things, but I want to do what frees me to do what I like and to do what it takes for my heart to do them peacefully.

I’m challenging myself this week with a little accountability in the kitchen. I’ve typed out a few questions to challenge the time-wasters in life. The places where I get sucked in and then realize half an hour has vanished. There are still chores to be done but I could be listening to that audio book I want to finish while doing them.

My questions:

What distracts? 

What wastes time?

What is what I really want to be doing?

Or outcome I really want?

This week I’m asking God to grow in me: ___________________

 

After a season filled with double piece of pumpkin pie days, I filled in the blank with SELF-CONTROL. It doesn’t meet my real goal of feeling better and being more fit for a big trip I’m going on. I can see that. I just usually fail to do anything about it. I put my questions next to a budding plant to remind myself I too can grow.

I’ll admit, I’m terrible at this. I’m the worst at fad diet plans, read-through-the-Bible-in-a- year charts, 6 weeks to a better whatever workouts. I always quit. But I want this season and next year to be different. I count this as part of renewing my own heart and mind by bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Jesus. Lies that make me give up, have no right to reserve space in my thinking.

I would encourage you too to ask God to help you see the negative thoughts that rob you and to find positive voices, ones you resonate with even if your life doesn’t match their words yet, to encourage you to find what you ought to be doing and live freer from pressures of pleasing some you can’t please anyway.

“I want to care what no man thinks of me so long as God is pleased.”  -A.W. Tozer

 

What can you lay down this month to pick up what you really want?

 

Check out our intentional Christmas posts: 

Advent Eve: Consider a Slower Christmas this Year

10 Ideas for Celebrating Jesse Tree Advent with Pre-schoolers