by Vicki Ward

Created on: April 28, 2010

Dealing with life’s ups and downs is hard, very hard. Everyone has a different burden, a different schedule and a different way of dealing with their burdens.  Some have everything all planned out while the flip side is flying by the seat of their pants.  Either way it is a still a hectic rat race with the end of the day winding down and still a pile of unfinished business to attend to. What to do about it? Ask yourself, “If my To Do List is longer than my day, am I doing what is important or only what is urgent?”People do what they want to do. All of us make choices.

Try this: let go and let God. That doesn’t mean to abandon everything and head out to the desert for a spiritual “walkabout.”  On the contrary, God knows you have a busy life and wants to help you. He wants to relieve you of the stressors you self impose and wants you to focus on the important things.  In His Word, Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. Now re-read that scripture again. “It is a gift of God” means that you can’t earn it. When someone gives you a gift, you don’t reach into your pocket to pay them or punch a time clock to work for it. No, you simply say, “thank you,” and receive it.  God gives us the gift of salvation. He also gives us the gifts of the Spirit such as: patience, kindness, love, gentleness, joy, peace, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control .Those are the things as well as guidance, wisdom, hope and a deeper knowledge of Him, that He wants to give to us.  When you feel harried and the world is pressing in, stop, and pray.

 Prayer doesn’t have to be a formal traditional rehearsed speech to God. It is simply you speaking to God.  Ask Him to show you what is important for the day.  Praise and worship Him. Allow Him to guide you to His will. In many times, the items we thought were so pressing and causing us to feel pressured are not important at all. If we see these items that are pulling us down, they can be eliminated. Then there is the time for the rest. Time to finish the work and time to enjoy the day. Accept the gift of God. Allow the scale to rise up as the load is lightened. Take a deep cleansing breath and thank God.

Life can be like a roller coaster ride, full of ups and downs. Time with God can help smooth some those extremes. If you spend time with God in the morning you’ll feel refreshed and ready for the new day. If you spend time with Him in the evening, you’ll go to sleep relaxed, resting in His care. Either way, time with your heavenly Father is never wasted.

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