Overwhelmed? Don’t know where to turn?
Life is hard. Yet, we know God is good! All the time! So “What is our problem?” And why do we feel like we are going to “crack” so often? We simply have too much stuff to do. To many people want a “piece of us”. We cannot do it all. Yet we feel that we MUST! So what is a person to do? Help is on the way!

Opportunities or Distractions?
Here is a novel thought: Opportunities that come to you, may not be opportunities at all. They may actually be distractions from the REAL purpose God has for you. Do you know your God-given strengths? Your Spiritual gifts? What is keeping you awake at night?

Healthy lifestyles include “taking time out as well as doing things.” – Encounter with God devotional.

The NEED for the Sabbath Rest
The Sabbath principle provides for:
**Hard work between Sabbath rests
**Creative Rest during Sabbath rests
**A Place/time for the Poor and those in need

“When the law of God is written in our hearts, our DUTY will be our DELIGHT.” – Mathew Henry

Application
When my first child was born, I decided I wanted to use cloth diapers. I wanted the full “joy” of mothering. Well, it wasn’t long before I realized that baby’s cloth poopy diapers were not the “joy” I had anticipated! (Go figure! 🙂 )

So, in order to turn my DUTY into DELIGHT, I wrote on a 3×5 card over the changing table “For You God…With Delight!” And you know what? It worked! It was still a less-than-awesome experience, but I turned my face heavenward and it became a form of worship! Now, don’t laugh until you have tried it!

And you know what else? That “For You God…With Delight!” phrase has served me well on many other occasions throughout my life, as well. Life is not always roses, and let’s be honest here…sometimes life has the fragrance of poopy diapers.

Integrity of Speech
A lack of integrity in speech…undermines the family as well as the church. Our speech matters. Little things matter. LISTEN to what you are saying out loud and in your head. It matters. Reprogram that negativity into something wholesome and true! No one should have to walk through this life without a mentor. That is where a Christian Life Coach can help. Check this out: www.MomCouragementCoaching.com But in the meantime, you can start here…

Stopping and Taking the Time to Listen to God
It can bring great peace and clarity of thought. Wisdom. And can result in inner joy that passes understanding.

Here are some helpful steps for developing the spiritual discipline of listening (especially in times of turmoil) Joyce Hugget shares in Listening to God:
(I do think that it is progressive…moving from one level to the next is a process. I don’t believe you can automatically get from #1 to #9 without taking time and diligence to get there. Being on the same page with God is the best plan ever! HIS plan for us!)

1. Physical relaxation & silence
2. Becoming aware of God’s presence
3. Surrendering to Him in obedience
4. Acceptance of ourselves as He sees us
5. Repenting & receiving forgiveness
6. Spending time in contemplation
7. Receiving grace & expressing gratitude
8. Listening to specific instructions
9. Moving to action

Some Thoughts to help you begin
“Who you are is more important than what you have been called to do.” – Priscilla Shirer

“Give back to the Lord the desires and gifts He has given you and then trust Him to use them when and how He chooses…Your weakness is not a liability. It’s one of your greatest assets. So welcome the Light into your weakness and let it shine!” – Priscilla Shirer

“Once you become aware that the main business that you are here for is to KNOW GOD, most of life’s problems fall into place of their own accord.” – J. I Packer

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us…that the life of Christ be manifested in our body.” – (2 Corinthians 4:7)

Until Next Time…

Onward, dear friends! Don’t quit. Keep in the battle. The Light will come and you will see your way more clearly! I am praying for you! Let me know how you are doing! I’d love to have opportunity to encourage you in your overwhelm and distraction! You can contact me at pam@MomCouragementCoaching.com or through a comment in the space below. Or on facebook! Encouragement is my God-given specialty! 🙂

And as always, if this has been helpful, be sure to pass it on to your “tribe”!