Will you hop on God’s path, with acts of obedience, turning your schedule over to God, our Master Planner? Saying, “Here’s My Calendar, God.”
One morning, during my Bible study, God whispered, “Deborah, there are no deadlines.” And with my wow came tears. There are no deadlines.
My schedule, goals, and dreams overwhelmed me. I had penciled in every moment on my planner. Pray, do Bible study, writing, appointments, errands, etc. Combined with family obligations and entertainment, I was stretching, overfilling, and floundering.
Have you felt this way? If you are like me, it can seem as if there are non-stop deadlines. The drudgery of keeping up with ourselves starts stealing our joy. We can become anxious, nervous, depressed, and short with others. When the schedule is so filled, we lose track of our purpose and calling. We end up depleted, defeated, and tired.
We often start with good intentions but find ourselves striving and pushing rather than waiting on God’s timing and planning.
What does God say about all this?
It is essential to know that God already has plans for our lives. God’s plans are good plans, meant to prosper and not harm us, to give us hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). We are to trust in God with all our hearts and lean not on our understanding but on God’s understanding. Then by submitting to God, He will make our paths straight (Proverbs 3:5-6). God promises that He will instruct and teach you. And so beautiful is that He will counsel with His eye upon us (Psalm 32:8).
We must reassess our goals, deadlines, dreams, and desires periodically to see if they align with God’s plan for our life.
As I spent time reflecting, I realized it was time for me to re-elevate, take back my schedule, and give it to God. This meant saying no in some areas so that I have a quality, not quantity, calendar. When God imparted to me that there are no deadlines with Him, He showed me what was most important. He is the one who will do the growing, increasing, stretching, and planning through the ebbs and flow, the curves, tunnels, and bridges of life.
Thankfully, God imparted to me that there are no deadlines with Him. He wants me to do my very best every day. I do not need to overdo my very best or get by with not my very best. But only my very best, not somebody else’s, but the one God gave me. My best starts with prayer and being still with God in the morning. I then commit my day to Him, giving my schedule, desires, and dreams, and watch the day unfold. I am always surprised and in awe of what God can do when I get out of the way.
What will you do?
Will you hop on the narrow path, with acts of obedience, turning your day-to-day schedule over to God, our Master Planner? You can settle into a slow, still, quality lifestyle instead of a stressful, anxiety-ridden one that unsettles and overwhelms you. Will you let God immerse you with peace and joy as He carries your burden, giving you rest? Will you trust in the Lord with all your heart, walking straight God paths rather than crooked discouraged ones?
Envision our homes full of harmony, peace, and joy. Quality moments rolled in by God’s map. God grows us where we need to grow. Transforming us in His way. Maturing us where required, sharpening when needed. Our lives are under God’s wing of protection as He prepares us for heaven and eternity with Him. As God’s beloved, we know God works all good things together for our good (Romans 8:28).
Blessings & Smiles – Deborah
Scripture for trusting in God’s plan –
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my eye upon you. Psalm 32:8 ESV
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,[a] for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 ESV
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Love your thoughts and approach here Deborah. Sometimes it’s hard to release our calendars to God, but I am learning His plans are always best, less stressful and for my ultimate good!
Thank you, Donna. I am too learning! But I love when I get overwhelmed how God nudges be back.
Debbie, I love this. So true, and I love this message and such a wonderful lesson too. Blessings.
Visiting today from Let’s Have Coffee #19
Hi Paula, Thank you! I am so happy you stopped. Blessings to you too.
God was so kind to set you free from the yoke and burden of deadlines, Deborah! Hallelujah! Rejoicing with you in the freedom and the resulting breath of life.
Lisa, yes, and I admit it is a daily release to Him. But He is the Father of kindness and mercy.
Thank you, thank you, thank you, Deborah!
This is so spot on.
Sigh. What needless burdens we carry…
Thank you, Deborah.
Debby, you are so right – needless burdens – thank goodness He knows how to nudge us back to Him.
You had me right here: We must reassess our goals, deadlines, dreams, and desires periodically to see if they align with God’s plan for our life. . . . I’m chewing on this right now and will be for a while! Thank you!
Stacey – I am so happy God nudged me to this! What a relief to know that all is in His hands. You are welcome and thank you for reading. Blessings.
Time for me is less about deadlines and whether I’ll actually consistently take small steps in my writing and art rather than be quick to give up. I once read “obedience is success” and I remind myself of this often. Happy to find your blog.
Lisa, I like your thoughts on time. Yes “obedience is success.” I am blessed that you here!
I’m glad you wrote on this topic. It is so very important for us to remember that our time is limited. We can’t do everything, but fortunately God doesn’t want us to! I am in a season of shredding my calendar and asking God to put on it only what matters. It’s challenging, but necessary.
Kelinda, yes I like the image of shredding it and asking God to put on it only what matters. So important. Praying for you in this season.
I frequently need to assess and yield my plans to God. What I think is important and needed is frequently not what He wanted me to do that day. It’s so much better to give my day to Him first thing in the morning than struggle with it all day.
Barbara, I agree with you. It is best first thing in the morning, and then sometimes I find He will adjust my schedule throughout the day – so I am learning to be flexible and trusting.
Amen! By God’s grace and with His help, I pray to surrender each day to His plans and purposes. It truly is by grace alone. Thanks for this beautiful reminder!
Deb, yes, Amen! I pray to surrender each day to His plans and purposes – we are blessed with His grace.
Deborah, this is exactly what I needed to read and adds to exactly what God is trying to teach me right now. So I will be featuring this at Grace and Truth this Friday. Thank you.
Lauren, I am happy that you found it encouraging. I am going through this lesson right now too. Thank you for featuring – you are a blessing?
Surrendering my calendar is often the hardest thing to do. I was tested yesterday and thankfully I exchanged my to do list for the better one that God had arranged. 🙂
Lisa, yes, it is hard for me too but so much more better when we do. Thank you for sharing your testimony.?