Hinders and Entangles

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,  fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith. – Hebews 12: 1-2

Today, I began my quiet time with God by taking a moment to be still, closing my eyes, and imagined inviting Him into my day. I smiled at Him and said, “Hello,” and then asked for my heart and mind to be open to whatever He had for me. It wasn’t long before my mind strayed to the many tasks at hand and I began to feel overwhelmed. How would I accomplish all of this? How would I carve out time in my regular schedule to make plans for larger tasks that were pending in the upcoming weeks and months? It all began to feel so big and I felt hindered by my lack of control and entangled by anxiousness.

None of those feelings were what God had in mind for me and in His amazing and perfectly timed way, He had a message for me in that day’s daily devotional (Praying the Scriptures for Your Life by Jodie Berndt) which read, “We may think that the answer to an overwhelmed life is a change in our circumstances or an easing up of our schedules, but it’s not. The answer is to spend time with God – and the busier we are, the more time we should spend with Him.” It then gave a quote by Martin Luther which read, “I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.”

God was clearly showing me that I am hindered and entangled by strict schedules, to-do lists and constantly measuring my productivity and time. I place too much effort into managing every minute of my day and it robs me of His peace and joy. I’ve been fixing my eyes on my own efforts and abilities instead of trusting God’s leading and leaning into His abilities.

Psalm 31: 14-15 reads, “But I trust in you, Lord;” I say, “You are my God.” “My times are in your hands; deliver me from the hands of my enemies, from those who pursue me.” I cannot express how much this verse touched my heart. My time is in God’s hands. That means that the more I have to do, the more I need to lay it out before the Lord, seek His direction and then following His leading. He will show me which things are most important and dismiss those that need removed. He will relieve me of worrying about future events because they are safely in His capable hands.

Thank you, Lord! You’ve entrusted me with hours and days; let me use time faithfully. Help me to run the race before me with my eyes fixed on You. In Jesus’ name, amen.