One of the biggest things I have struggled with recently is feeling like I am better, more righteous, and more worthy when I am busy and moving. In many ways, I have fallen for the trap of productivity being a god, and productivity itself being my purpose.
2 Thessalonians 3:11
We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies.
Even if I am hard at work, and with what I feel like is good intention, if my ultimate intention is to cross something off a to-do list a la me, it’s busy-bodying.
I’ve learned that there is a way to be organized and to plan my schedule righteously– and that WAY is with, through, and for God.
When I ask HIM every morning what my day should look like, He sometimes places people on my heart. He sometimes convicts me. I am sometimes guided to ensure I have allotted time for prayer; and I am always prompted to selflessness. To loving my neighbours. To seeing work not just as a means of getting by for me, but as a ministry.
A big part of every day that involves Jesus involves unwinding. My new work schedule involves most days at the cafe from 7-2, followed by my freelance work for a few hours, and open evenings, to be with Johnny, friends, and family. I like to go to the gym, to cook every night, plus there’s always cleaning the house, running errands, ensuring that I have time for things like reading…
it’s easy, especially in our Western society where busyness is glorified, for life to feel like a routine, and to become self-serving in that routine. But a life lived in partnership with Jesus is NEVER self-serving, for what He does is serving His Kingdom, in ways both inward and outward.
If you haven’t thought about talking to Jesus about your day-to-day, I would encourage you to do that. Just saying a prayer, Lord, how do YOU want me to spend my time today?
I bet you will be amazed by what He does.
To thwart busybodyness, He does call us to rest.
Hebrews 4:10
For anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his.
Here are some of my favourite ways to do so:
- Reading for pleasure (I love fiction. I’m currently reading John Green’s Turtles All the Way Down) with a tea and in a comfy spot
- Blogging (cassiescookery is my little baby)
- Watching YouTube videos– I try to keep this time to no more than half an hour a day, because it’s easy for me to get sucked in– but I love a good vlog or recipe video!
- Masterchef, This is Us, the Office– my current shows. I don’t want much TV, but with Johnny here, we watch one episode of the Office most days
- Cooking/baking and blasting tunes; my absolute number one hobby!
- Coffee with friends; talking to Jesus; journalling. All of these things are a part of rest, and I am always learning from Jesus Christ, my friends, and journalling.
Such a great reminder, Cass!! I needed this– I love that scripture from Hebrew too. I think the enemy will try to steal rest from us and lie saying “busyness = best always” as a way to exhaust us and make us less available to do what God has for us. Agreed that in the Western world we totally need to learn how to better find this balance and not make busyness a god. I also have been finding rest lately since I graduated my residency program, but I’ve been feeling guilty about it, so this post was timely in reminding me that this downtime is a blessing and not something to feel guilty about. Thankful for ya, girlie!