There is an insidious trap that lurks in all of our lives – it steals our time, our money, our well-being and our joy leaving us exhausted, broke, sick and depressed. Because of its nature we don’t notice it … we experience the results and don’t like them but we don’t recognize the problem. We think we’re missing something so we work harder, play harder, spend harder and pat ourselves on the back saying “you’re doing ok” in this world.
Is that all you want? To do ok in this world? Isn’t there more … isn’t there a hole in your life that never seems to be filled … a craving that never gets satisfied? Isn’t that what makes you want to feel more, do more, accomplish more?
Are you caught in the trap of the “Overs”? Are you overstretched? Overspent? Overindulged? Overconfident? Let’s take look.
In today’s world the more you have scheduled in your day planner the more important you are – or at least that’s how you perceive yourself and how others perceive you. The more you can multitask the more others look up to you and marvel at how you can get so much done. There are not enough hours in a day to get to all the things on your list and this gives you a sense of value and worth. This is the trap of being overstretched.
Take time to breathe ...
Is that really how you want to place value on your life? When was the last time you spent a quiet time alone with your own thoughts and discovered who you are? When was the last time you spent a few minutes talking to your Creator about your life and where you’re going? When was the last time you just took a deep breath and enjoyed those minutes of your life right then?
Perhaps you feel you have to run – that your day planner has to be full – that you have to work two or three jobs to make ends meet. And maybe, for some, that is the case at the moment because you have been caught in the trap of overspending. This is a merry-go-round that will not stop on its own … it’s a conscious decision one has to make to live within our means. It’s not easy in today’s world. We are bombarded from morning until night with every imaginable “treasure” sure to bring us happiness. But how can we find peace and contentment in our lives if we are always under the bondage of debt to others?
If you’re overstretched with your time or overspent in your finances, it affects your willpower; and if your willpower is out of control, then most probably your health is out of control as well. God created a wonderful and awesome body for us and it has miraculous abilities to respond to whatever comes its way; but it does have its limits. God intended for us to take good care of our bodies. Paul said in I Corinthians 6:19-20 that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. What is the shape of your temple? Have you overindulged in food and drink and fun to the point that your body is run down and wearing out? If so, you can’t enjoy your life when your body is overtired and overstimulated.
Finally we come to the point where we need to decide where our confidence needs to lie. Are we overconfident in our own abilities? Do we place our confidence in God and trust Him to lead us and provide for us and work things out for us? Or do we think we can do it -- we don’t need help – we’re successful in our work, drive a great car, have a big house, and a great family. But what happens if the job disappears, the car is repossessed, the house is foreclosed, and the family doesn’t live up to our expectations? What happens if just one of these scenarios occurs? Where is our confidence then?
God created us to be in His image; He has a good plan for our lives (Jeremiah 29:11) and He wants us to be free of the “overs” so we can be all that He has designed us to be. Living up to our potential in Christ will bring us peace, freedom, good health and a balanced lifestyle; and our true confidence will be centered in our Lord who gives us every good and perfect gift. I say it’s time to free ourselves from the “overs”!
Take time to enjoy your life ... Blessings,
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